Published TUESDAY March 3, 2026: 'STICKY SITUATION: Why Are Florida Bee's Dying?' Photography by ZUMA Partner newspaper The Tampa Bay Times Pulitzer Prize winning photo-journalist Douglas R. Clifford: Scientists call it a 'pollinator health crisis.' One in three mouthfuls of everything we eat directly or indirectly rely upon honeybee production, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Pollinators contribute over $24 billion to the US economy, $15 billion from bees alone. But domestic pollinators have plummeted for decades, especially native bees. Managed honey bees fell from 6 million colonies in 1947 to 2.5 million today. A phenomenon called 'colony collapse disorder' killed 23% of the honey bee population in 2007. In 2022, Hurricane Ian destroyed up to 300,000 beehives. Fewer pollinators pose a serious risk to US agriculture and the economy. Like canaries in a coal mine, bees reflect the health of the environment. The rapid loss of bees over the past decade may signal a decline in the health of the planet, scientists warn, and a symptom of larger environmental problems. Welcome to 'STICKY SITUATION: Why Are Florida Bee's Dying?'
© zReportage.com Issue #1030 Story of the Week: Published TUESDAY March 3, 2026: 'STICKY SITUATION: Why Are Florida Bee's Dying?' Photography by ZUMA Partner newspaper The Tampa Bay Times Pulitzer Prize winning photo-journalist Douglas R. Clifford: Scientists call it a 'pollinator health crisis.' One in three mouthfuls of everything we eat directly or indirectly rely upon honeybee production, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Pollinators contribute over $24 billion to the US economy, $15 billion from bees alone. But domestic pollinators have plummeted for decades, especially native bees. Managed honey bees fell from 6 million colonies in 1947 to 2.5 million today. A phenomenon called 'colony collapse disorder' killed 23% of the honey bee population in 2007. In 2022, Hurricane Ian destroyed up to 300,000 beehives. Fewer pollinators pose a serious risk to US agriculture and the economy. Like canaries in a coal mine, bees reflect the health of the environment. The rapid loss of bees over the past decade may signal a decline in the health of the planet, scientists warn, and a symptom of larger environmental problems. Welcome to 'STICKY SITUATION: Why Are Florida Bee's Dying?'

Worker honey bees cluster tightly together on a frame inside a Langstroth hive during an inspection at Westminster Suncoast, a retirement community in St. Petersburg. The bees drape over one another in a dense mass as they regulate brood temperature and protect developing larvae, a behavior known as clustering that helps maintain the colony's internal stability.
© Douglas R. Clifford/Tampa Bay Times via ZUMA Press Wire

Beekeeper DRAKE ELTING, of South Tampa, zips up his protective suit before inspecting a honey bee colony at Westminster Suncoast, a retirement community in St. Petersburg. Beekeepers wear full protective gear, including veils and gloves, to reduce the risk of stings while conducting routine colony health checks that monitor brood patterns, pest activity and honey stores. There are 5,000 registered beekeepers in the state of Florida who are in charge of managing approximately 630,000 bee colonies.
© Douglas R. Clifford/Tampa Bay Times via ZUMA Press Wire

Beekeeper STEPHANIE RAMTHUN examines a wooden frame from the brood box of a hive while inspecting a colony at Westminster Suncoast in St. Petersburg. Ramthun was assessing capped and uncapped brood cells for a healthy laying pattern and signs of stress within the colony.
© Douglas R. Clifford/Tampa Bay Times via ZUMA Press Wire

Beekeeper DRAKE ELTING, of South Tampa, uses a smoker to calm a honey bee colony during an inspection at Westminster Suncoast in St. Petersburg. Florida is home to over 300 native bee species. These bees assist with the growth of agricultural crops and wild plants via pollination. Florida's native bees are threatened by human activities like development, the introduction of nonnative species, and the application of harmful chemicals.
© Douglas R. Clifford/Tampa Bay Times via ZUMA Press Wire

Beekeeper DRAKE ELTING, of South Tampa, examines the bees on a wooden frame from the brood box of a hive while inspecting a colony at Westminster Suncoast in St. Petersburg. Managed honey bees fell from 6 million colonies in 1947 to 2.5 million today.
© Douglas R. Clifford/Tampa Bay Times via ZUMA Press Wire

The queen bee, center, moves across a frame of open comb as worker bees surround her during a colony inspection at Westminster Suncoast. Larger than the workers and marked by her elongated abdomen, the queen is the colony's sole egg layer, capable of laying up to 1,500 eggs per day during peak season.
© Douglas R. Clifford/Tampa Bay Times via ZUMA Press Wire

Beekeeper DRAKE ELTING, of South Tampa, examines the bees on a wooden frame from the brood box of a hive while inspecting a colony at Westminster Suncoast in St. Petersburg. In 2022, Hurricane Ian destroyed up to 300,000 beehives. Fewer pollinators pose a serious risk to US agriculture and the economy. Like canaries in a coal mine, bees reflect the health of the environment.
© Douglas R. Clifford/Tampa Bay Times via ZUMA Press Wire

Ten wooden frames rest evenly spaced inside the brood box of a standard Langstroth hive during an inspection at Westminster Suncoast, a retirement community in St. Petersburg. Each frame supports beeswax comb where the queen lays eggs and worker bees store pollen and honey. Center frames hold capped brood, developing bees sealed inside hexagonal cells, while outer frames transition to pollen bands and capped honey reserves that sustain the colony.
© Douglas R. Clifford/Tampa Bay Times via ZUMA Press Wire

Beekeeper DRAKE ELTING of South Tampa, reviews colony records before inspecting a honey bee hive at Westminster Suncoast, a retirement community in St. Petersburg. Regular documentation of brood patterns, pest pressure and honey stores helps track the colony's health.
© Douglas R. Clifford/Tampa Bay Times via ZUMA Press Wire

Beekeepers STEPHANIE RAMTHUN, left, and DRAKE ELTING, of South Tampa, discuss the health of a hive after inspecting a colony at Westminster Suncoast in St. Petersburg. There are 5,000 registered beekeepers in the state of Florida who are in charge of managing approximately 630,000 bee colonies. These bees are used to pollinate crops and are actually outsourced to other farmers around the country.
© Douglas R. Clifford/Tampa Bay Times via ZUMA Press Wire

A wax moth crawls across a frame of beeswax comb during a hive inspection at Westminster Suncoast. Wax moth larvae tunnel through comb and leave silken webbing that damages brood cells and stored honey, typically targeting weakened or underpopulated colonies if not detected and managed early.
© Douglas R. Clifford/Tampa Bay Times via ZUMA Press Wire

Beekeeper DRAKE ELTING, of South Tampa, uses a smoker to calm a honey bee colony while STEPHANIE RAMTHUN removes the lid from the brood box during an inspection at Westminster Suncoast in St. Petersburg. Cool smoke masks alarm pheromones and encourages worker bees to gorge on honey, making them less defensive during examination. The rapid loss of bees over the past decade may signal a decline in the health of the planet, scientists warn, and a symptom of larger environmental problems.
© Douglas R. Clifford/Tampa Bay Times via ZUMA Press Wire