The Colony Collapse Paradox

Nearly half of America’s bee colonies die every year. So why aren’t there fewer? Because beekeepers replace them almost as fast as they die, splitting surviving hives and buying new queens and packages to fill the gaps. Each hexagon is 10,000 colonies, the 2.81 million alive in the U.S. on January 1, 2026. Watch them turn over.

Sources: USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service, Honey Bee Colonies (Aug 3, 2026), operations with five or more colonies · U.S. Beekeeping Survey, Auburn University, Oregon State University & Apiary Inspectors of America (2023–26).