HONEYBEES WE SHRUNK YOUR LIVES

From a month to fortnight in last 50yrs

THE lifespan of honeybees has halved in 50 years.

It now stands at just 17.7 days compared to 34.3 in the 1970s, regardless of their diet.

It is the first study to identify an overall decline in honeybee numbers within a controlled environment. The research hints that genetics may be influencing broader trends seen in the beekeeping industry.

Lead author Anthony Nearman, a PHD student at Maryland University, said: “We’re isolating bees from the colony life just before they emerge as adults so whatever is reducing their lifespan is happening before that point.

“This introduces the idea of a genetic component.

“If this hypothesis is right, it also points to a possible solution. If we can isolate some genetic factors, then maybe we can breed for longer-lived honeybees.”

The researchers said the next steps would be to compare trends in lifespans across the US and in other countries around the world. If they find differences in longevity they can isolate and compare potential contributing factors such as genetics, pesticides and viruses. In Britain, a third of wild bees are in decline with some species facing extinction.

Bees are vital pollinators and produce a third of our food by sustaining fruit, veg and cereals.