Bee loss in Southwest Colorado was significantly lower than the national average, said Tina Sebestyen with the Four Corners Beekeepers Association.

“Bee losses in our area are only 25 percent, much less than the 42 percent or the Colorado state loss of 38 percent for 2014,” Sebestyen said Wednesday. “Our loss is less than the usual annual loss of 30 percent.”

What is good news, Sebestyen said, is that backyard beekeepers, who provide all Four Corners Beekeepers statistics, generally lose more hives than commercial beekeepers whose losses are the majority of the 42 percent.

Sebestyen attributed the association’s lower bee losses to beekeeper education.

“We have a large and vibrant beekeeping club here, and we strive to educate beginning and more experienced beekeepers with speakers at meetings, a monitoring program and seminars,” Sebestyen said.

“There is a beekeeping seminar coming up,” she said. “On June 5, we will bring in Dewey Caron, professor emeritus and author of several books on beekeeping to speak.”

There will be topics for beginners and the advanced beekeeper, Sebestyen said. There also will be hands-on workshops.

The cost is $20. For information, call Sebestyen at 884-8190.

daler@durangoherald.com