Beekeepers in Flanders lost an average of 27% of their bee population this winter, according to figures from the Flemish Beekeeping Institute (VBI). 10% of beekeepers even lost all their bees.
The VBI conducts an annual survey of its beekeepers on winter mortality. For decades, the norm of winter mortality was 10%, but that rate has been surpassed for many years. Last year, the figure stood at 23% in Belgium, but there are large regional differences.
At some beekeepers, losses exceeded 80%. In some municipalities, entire bee colonies were lost. Flemish Brabant (30%) and Antwerp (29%) are the provinces with the highest bee mortality.
A "cluster of factors" is at the root of winter mortality, "which makes the problem very complex and difficult to manage," according to the VBI.
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Additionally, a marked loss of bee colonies occurred for the first time last autumn due to the presence of the Asian hornet – an invasive exotic species that has been on the rise in Belgium for several years, and sees a coveted prey in the honey bee.
The situation is "not rosy," the institute said. "The honey bee is like the canary in the coal mine: if there are issues with the honey bee, there are issues with all of nature."
