Millions of bees suddenly died in northern Hesse

Millions of bees suddenly died in northern Hesse. Beekeepers suspect a banned pesticide, but investigations show conflicting results. There is no clear cause for the mass die-off yet.

On July 8, hobby beekeeper Walter Freiburger from Hofgeismar-Kelze found many dead bees during an inspection. Other beekeepers in the region reported similar cases, indicating a larger problem.

The Hessian Beekeepers Association reported at the end of September that about 80 colonies, with an estimated three to four million dead bees, have been affected since early July. A total of 17 beekeepers from Hofgeismar, Kassel, and the Warme-Diemeltal area are involved. The cause is unclear: disease, poisoning, or other reasons are discussed.