RESULTS OF STANDARDIZED MONITORING OF HONEY BEE COLONY LOSSES IN UKRAINE IN WAR CONDITIONS FOR WINTER 2024-2025
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31861/biosystems2025.03.383Keywords:
Apis mellifera, colony losses, monitoring, mortality, beekeeping, varroosis, amitrazAbstract
The global problem of honey bee colony losses during overwintering results in enormous annual damage to the beekeeping sector, threatens the loss of valuable biomedical bee products, and, most importantly, has catastrophic consequences for agricultural production and the planet’s ecosystems. The aim of this study was to analyze losses of Apis mellifera colonies during the 2024–2025 overwintering period in Ukraine under conditions of full-scale war.
The research was conducted as part of international monitoring coordinated by the COLOSS Association, using traditional survey methods with an increasing role on digitalization of the questionnaire process. The protocol corresponded to the original COLOSS questionnaire, with several additions and modifications introduced by the national coordinator, including a block of questions addressing the impact of military operations on honey bee colony losses.
A total of 989 valid responses were received in spring 2025, compared to 684 valid responses collected in the previous monitoring year. It was found that overwintering in 2024–2025 occurred with a significantly higher total loss rate of honey bee colonies (13.82%) compared with the previous two seasons (9.52% after the 2023–2024 overwintering period and 10.75% after the 2022–2023 overwintering period).
The largest proportion of total losses (8.03%) consisted of colonies that died or disappeared during overwintering; 2.95% of colonies were lost due to natural disasters, and 2.85% were lost as a result of fatal queen-related problems. The highest total loss rate (17.44%) was recorded in the physiographical zone of mixed forests, while the lowest rate (12.15%) was observed in the steppe zone.
Dead or disappeared colonies were most frequently (38.85%) characterized by symptoms unknown to the beekeeper; somewhat less frequently, large numbers of dead bees were observed in or near the nests of affected colonies.
Apiaries belonging to 120 respondents (compared to 90 in the previous year) from 13 regions of Ukraine were located in territories affected by military operations, including exposure to noise, smoke, and environmental pollution. Among these respondents, 13 reported complete destruction of their apiaries; 33 lost access to their apiaries due to forced resettlement, 22 due to the destruction of access roads, and 12 due to the location of apiaries in temporarily occupied territories.
Small apiaries experienced significantly higher winter losses (19.15%) than medium-sized (12.63%) and large apiaries (11.38%). No significant difference in loss rates was observed between migratory and stationary apiaries.
Most surveyed beekeepers (87.8%) monitored their colonies for Varroa mite infestation, and nearly all respondents (97.8%) carried out treatments. As in previous years, Amitraz-based products were the most commonly used and trusted among Ukrainian beekeepers. However, significantly higher losses were recorded among respondents who treated colonies with Amitraz strips compared with those who used less commonly applied treatments, such as oxalic acid (dribble method) or Coumaphos (Pericin). These results support the development of Varroa mite resistance to Amitraz.
Deformed wing virus has not become widespread in Ukraine. 3.6% of beekeepers reported observing many bees with shortened or deformed wings, 31.9% reported observing a small number of such bees, and 59,2 % respondents did not observe this symptom at all.
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