"No one really knows EXACTLY how many total hives were in the US... either in 1945 or today."
Or anywhere else for that matter. How could anyone know? It's a moving target - leaving disease out of the equation, bad winters can reduce numbers dramatically and good summers can see huge increases as colonies are split.
Add to that the huge number of beekeepers who are not in any sort of organisation and the whole thing is just guesswork.
Best wishes
Peter
52°14'44.44"N, 1°50'35"W
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