You're comparing the total annual loss rate, which was apparently "slightly above average", to the loss rate just over the winter, which was 40%. This article

You're comparing the total annual loss rate, which was apparently "slightly above average", to the loss rate just over the winter, which was 40%. This article about the 2017 honeybee season mentions the difference. That winter, 31% of honeybees were lost, compared to ~28% the previous winter. https://www.farmprogress.com/crops/annual-honey-bee-colony-losses-remain-above-40-percent https://www.farmprogress.com/crops/annual-honey-bee-colony-l...