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Western Honey Bee Brought to the U.S
The Western honey bee, Apis mellifera, is not native to the Western hemisphere, but was imported by early colonists from England in the 1620s. They first landed in the Colony of Virginia, and then Massachusetts. -
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First Successful Beekeeper in California
Bees were first shipped from the Eastern U.S to California in the 1850s. Botantist Christopher A. Shelton brought 12 colonies of bees to California in 1853, but only one hive survived. But in 1857, John S. Harbison took 67 colonies of bees to California from Pennsylvania. Out of the 67, only five were dead on arrival. Unlike many of the importers before and after Harbison, he had more than 15 years of experience in beekeeping. Harbison is considered the first modern beekeeper of California. -
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Apiary Inspection Laws Passed
The first apiary inspection law in the U.S was established in San Bernardino County, California, in 1877. By 1906, 12 states had laws relating to bees. Presently, almost all states have regulations on bees and beekeeping. -
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Honey Bee Restriction Act Passed
In 1922, Congress passed law, known as the Honey Bee Restriction Act. This ban was amended in 1962 and 1976. It prevents the importation of honey bees in the U.S to prevent the spread of diseases and parasites harmful to honeybees, with few exceptions for scientific research. This ban was was partially revoked in 2004. -
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Declining Bee Population
According to the U.S Department of Agriculture, there were close 6 million honey bee colonies in 1945. Today, there are around 2.5 million honey bee colonies. From April 2014 to 2015, 42% colonies died, and from 2015 to 2016, 44% colonies died. Many of the colonies are dying in the winter and summer. The causes of the declining population could be due Colony Collapse Disorder, parasites, climate changes and pesticide use.