proportion of honey bee colonies wild vs kept

[Cuckmere couple]

does anyone know roughly what proportion is?

ive googled it a few times and cant really find anything

just interested

ive probably got 15-20 swarms and never had a marked q yet, though around 7-8 (half ish) would have been cast swarms anyway, and others may not have marked their queens

interesting

 

[enrico]

They will probably be my swarms����

 

[Levitt53]

I've picked up 7 or 8 swarms over the last few years and have never seen a marked queen. I am aware of 2 established feral colonies in my village but have had quite a few people contact me through Facebook about swarms that have taken up residence in their chimneys. I think it's impossible to know how many feral colonies there are but probably a lot more than we think.

 

[citrus]

They will probably be my swarms����

hahaha

 

[Cuckmere couple]

i thoughts id heard a stat that only 30% of colonies were maintained

it may have been at a association event and may be urban legend hence asking

 

[Ian123]

Personally I think the numbers of feral colonies has dropped from what they had been pre varroa but that’s only an observation.

 

[Buzzlodge]

i thoughts id heard a stat that only 30% of colonies were maintained

I think its impossible to know with any accuracy and also many feral colonies are now in roof spaces, chimneys etc rather than in trees.

I have been watching one for 7 years now; it died out in august of its 4th year and was robbed out. The site was then re-occupied the following May and is going strong three years later..

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

As Seeley said earlier on this year - bees aren't feral, they're all wild, whether they're in a tree or a hive. They have never been domesticated.

 

[Newbeeneil]

One less feral colony now!
Yesterday afternoons fun!

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

i thoughts id heard a stat that only 30% of colonies were maintained

Looks about right with the proportion of bee havers with hives nowadays

 

[madasafish]

Only local feral colony I know is 25 meters up under local school flat roof - 150 meters away. Swarmed into a nuc in our garden, Horrible bees.

 

[bingevader]

Looks about right with the proportion of bee havers with hives nowadays

Given your very broad definition of a bee haver and very narrow definition of a bee keeper, I'd have to agree!

 

[user 6228]

proportion of honey bee colonies wild vs kept => Nobody knows