New USDA Findings on the Latest Bees Crisis
To our fellow beekeepers, we are sure you’ve heard the news on the latest bee crisis – average losses of 70% for commercial beekeepers over winter 2024-2025. This represents the biggest bee crisis since the early 2000s Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD). Many of you have been wondering how this will affect your colonies and what it means for the future.
New research just released from the USDA’s Agricultural Research Service (ARS) is shedding some light on what may be driving these catastrophic losses: a troubling combination of deadly bee viruses and miticide-resistant varroa mites.
What the USDA Found
The USDA began investigating after commercial operations reported mass losses starting in January 2025. By the time they sampled colonies in February, more than 1.7 million colonies were already gone—representing a financial impact of around $600 million!
Samples of collapsed colonies collected by the USDA-ARS team showed high levels of Deformed Wing Virus A & B and Acute Bee Paralysis Virus. These viruses are well known to be vectored by varroa destructor mites. However, USDA found signs of widespread resistance to Amitraz, a synthetic miticide relied on by commercial beekeepers. In nearly every varroa mite sample collected, all the mites showed resistance to Amitraz. In short, mites are surviving treatments, spreading disease, and bees are paying the price.
Our Perspective
At PachaMama Bees, we treat our colonies with naturally-derived organic treatments that have shown strong results when used properly as part of a comprehensive Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategy.
That said, we also want to emphasize that this study, while compelling, is still under peer review and doesn't tell the whole story. As Dr. Judy Chen of the USDA-ARS pointed out, these viruses may be the final blow, but other stressors—like poor nutrition, pesticide exposure, habitat loss, and queen health—still play major roles in colony decline.
We commend the USDA researchers for their ongoing efforts into the causes of these major colony losses. Their findings give us valuable insight into what’s happening—but it's just one piece of a larger puzzle.
The silver lining? More people are beginning to recognize how vital pollinators are to our food system. This growing awareness is a step toward stronger support for bees and sustainable agriculture. In challenging times like these, smart, attentive beekeeping matters more than ever. Stay vigilant, stay informed, and keep your bees thriving.