A historical review of managed honey bee populations in Europe and the United States and the factors that may affect them.
Honey bees are a highly valued resource around the world. They are prized for their honey and wax production and depended upon for pollination of many important crops. While globally honey bee populations have been increasing, the rate of increase is not keeping pace with demand. Further, honey bee populations have not been increasing in all parts of the world, and have declined in many nations in Europe and in North America. Managed honey bee populations are influenced by many factors including diseases, parasites, pesticides, the environment, and socio-economic factors. These factors can act alone or in combination with each other. This review highlights the present day value of honey bees, followed by a detailed description of some of the historical and present day factors that influence honey bee populations, with particular emphasis on colony populations in Europe and the United States.
Vanengelsdorp
Dennis
D
Department of Entomology, The Pennsylvania State University, 501 ASI Bldg., University Park, PA 16802, USA.
Meixner
Marina Doris
MD
D000820:Animal Diseases / Q000382:microbiology / Q000469:parasitology; D000822:Animal Husbandry / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*; D000818:Animals; D056630:Beekeeping; D001516:Bees / Q000382:microbiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000502:physiology*; D018556:Crops, Agricultural / Q000191:economics; D005060:Europe; D005260:Female; D019649:Food Industry / Q000191:economics / Q000639:trends; D006722:Honey; D054817:Pollination / Q000502:physiology; D011157:Population Dynamics; D014481:United States