Bee populations in Belgium shrink by 22.5 per cent over winter as global threats mount
Belgium’s honeybee population declined by 22.5 per cent over the past winter, highlighting persistent concerns about pollinator loss both domestically and globally. The figures come from a national survey by Ghent University’s Honeybee Valley, in partnership with research institutes CRA-W and CARI.
Based on responses from 710 beekeepers, the results show that 1,679 colonies were lost. While a 10 per cent winter mortality rate is considered normal, this year's figure is significantly higher, though not exceptional, said Ellen Danneels of Honeybee Valley.
These findings are part of a troubling trend, with high bee mortality rates in Belgium persisting for over a decade. In 2024, winter losses averaged 22.3 per cent, compared to 17 per cent in 2023.
Two main causes are suspected. The parasitic Varroa destructor mite continues to plague hives, weakening bees and making them more vulnerable to other stressors. Nearly half of surveyed beekeepers reported using oxalic acid treatments in an effort to combat infestations.
Another concern is the growing presence of invasive Asian hornets, which prey on bees. While their link to winter mortality remains unproven, almost 10 per cent of beekeepers reported finding empty hives following hornet attacks, suggesting that they could pose a more serious threat in spring.
Regional variation is stark. Brussels, home to Belgium’s smallest bee population, saw the highest losses at 44 per cent, while Flemish Brabant reported the lowest mortality rate at just 7.9 per cent.
These national trends reflect a global crisis for pollinators. Bees face well-documented threats from habitat loss, pesticides, climate change and disease. However, new research released by the international science initiative Bee:wild warns that emerging dangers, including war, microplastic pollution and artificial light, are accelerating this decline.
Emerging threats
The report, "Emerging threats and opportunities for conservation of global pollinators", outlines 12 risks to pollinators that have been identified by an international panel of experts.
These include armed conflict disrupting agriculture, microplastics infiltrating hives, light pollution reducing night-time pollination by over 60 per cent, and antibiotic residues altering bee behaviour. Other pressures include air pollution, pesticide cocktails and increasingly severe wildfires.
As nearly 90 per cent of flowering plant species and over 75 per cent of global food crops depend on pollinators such as bees, butterflies, moths, birds and bats, the report emphasises the need for immediate, evidence-based action to halt their decline and safeguard ecosystem stability.
© PHOTO BELGA PHOTO JAMES ARTHUR GEKIERE
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