Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) describes a situation where the majority of worker bees vanish, leaving behind a live queen, food stores, and a few nurse bees. It’s been a concern for nearly two decades, and in 2025, it’s still relevant—especially here in the Southwest.

Key Signs of CCD:

• Sudden disappearance of worker bees
• Capped and uncapped brood left behind
• Honey and pollen still present
• No dead bees in or around the hive
• Pests and robbers don’t immediately move in

This was a hive removal from under a shed in Arizona. A month before this the colony was thriving, but when we went to remove it, there were no live or dead bees, lots of honey stores, and brood comb that had been chewed by a rat.

There’s no single cause of CCD—it’s often the result of multiple stressors stacking up at once. Arizona bees face unique desert-specific challenges on top of national threats:

1. Pesticide Exposure

Especially from agricultural spray drift or landscape treatments in urban areas. Surprisingly, homeowners use 10 times more pesticides per acre than farmers do, so don’t just blame agriculture.

2. Varroa Mites

These parasites are a leading cause of colony collapse nationwide, and often go undetected by newer beekeepers. Once you have kept bees for a season, you realize how devastating these mites are. Many beekeepers lose hives simply because of a lack of monitoring.

3. Viruses & Disease

Weakened hives, whether from lack of food, climate, or varroa infestation, are more susceptible to viruses and diseases during high-stress seasons. Africanized honeybees leave sick brood and start fresh much more often than European colonies do, but all honeybees will tend to abandon a bad situation.

4. Poor Nutrition

Desert forage is seasonal, and urban development continues to reduce access to wildflowers and native plants.

5. Extreme Heat & Drought

Arizona summers are brutal. Without proper water access or hive shade, colonies can overheat. Honeybee food sources were also affected by the heat and drought so that there was less food available. This scenario produced weak colonies that were less able to take advantage of the nectar flow this spring, putting them at a compounded disadvantage for taking on another hot summer.

Honeybee losses aren’t just anecdotal—they’re tracked and measured each year through national surveys and scientific research:

Bee Informed Partnership Annual Survey

• Beekeepers across the U.S. report how many colonies they started with and how many they lost during both summer and winter.
• Losses are averaged and published nationally.
• Arizona beekeepers are encouraged to participate to make local data more accurate.

USDA & Academic Research

• Tracks colony numbers, honey production, and loss causes through the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS).
• Commercial operations are also studied for regional trends.

Keeping bees out of pools and fountains in Arizona is all about offering a better water source while making your pool less attractive to them. By setting up a dedicated bee water station and tweaking your pool or fountain setup, you can create a win-win situation—your backyard stays bee-free, and the bees stay hydrated where they belong. We are losing bee colonies by the thousands due to heat waves in the summer here in Arizona. Help them survive by allowing them to have access to what they need most to survive here while still enjoying your outdoor spaces.

Honeybee losses are real—and measurable. But by understanding the local challenges and applying smart desert-friendly practices, we can help protect Arizona’s pollinators.

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