Why do bees matter?While they may be unwelcome guests at picnics and on playgrounds, bees play a crucial role in keeping ecosystems healthy and functional—and they keep us fed, too. Bees are important pollinators: they fly from plant to plant collecting nectar and pollen to feed their young. Some of the pollen they pick up is transferred from one plant to the next, which cross-pollinates the plant. There are some plants that require cross-pollination in order to produce seeds—without insects like bees, they would have to rely on the wind to carry pollen to neighboring plants. Bees help cross-pollinate crops that are important to humans, such as cotton, tomatoes, squash, and alfalfa, but they also have a positive effect on wild plants that other insects and animals rely on for food and shelter.
|
Threats to bee populationsFor over ten years beekeepers throughout the world have been noticing a startling issue: the worker bees in their hives are disappearing, despite having plenty of food and not showing signs of a disease that would result in so many deaths. This problem is called “colony collapse disorder,” and it is more extreme than the usual losses seen after a hard winter. Unfortunately, no one is sure why colony collapse disorder is so common, or what exactly is causing it. Some scientists blame unknown diseases or parasites, and many others attribute the problem to overuse of pesticides or insecticides. As a solution is sought, bees are continuing to die, which threatens plant diversity.
|
Save the bees!Since the cause of colony collapse disorder is unknown, it’s difficult to know exactly what can be done to help keep bee populations steady. However, bee-friendly gardens tended with minimal or no pesticides ensure that local bee populations will have a safe place to collect pollen. Bee friendly plants include anything that produces lots of nectar (such as wildflowers) and blooms for a long time. Bees get thirsty, too, so providing some water in a birdbath or little pond can help them stay alive.
Gardens aren’t practical for everyone, since they require time and space that many people don’t have access to. Other ways to help honey bees include buying locally sourced honey at farmers’ markets, or supporting brands that put a portion of their proceeds towards assisting bee populations—such as |