Bees are fascinating creatures. Even if you’re not a fan of honey, you can appreciate the bee’s complex social structure, physiology, and behavior. Did you know that venom from bee stings might have some benefits -- like reducing rheumatoid arthritis pain? Or that bees can recognize human faces? For more amazing trivia that is the bees knees, CLICK ON THIS.
Photo by Patrick Brinksma on Unsplash
Humans Depend on Bees for Food
By some estimates, one-third of our food requires pollination. Pollinators include flies, butterflies, birds, and bats, but it’s the mighty honey bee that performs more than 80% of all pollination of cultivated crops -- not just the fruit and vegetables we eat but also nuts, herbs, spices, forage for dairy and beef cattle, and medicinal and ornamental plants.
Has The Bee Population Stabilized?
In the late 1990s, beekeepers started noticing that bee populations were dwindling, but do bees continue to be in decline? Unfortunately, the answer is a resounding yes. There are several reasons for this. Neonicotinoids (“new nicotine-like insecticides”) are used widely in farming and urban landscapes. The well-known product Roundup contains the toxic substance glyphosate, the most widely used insecticide in the world. To see which cities and countries have banned glyphosate, CHECK OUT THIS ARTICLE.
Neonicotinoids (“neonics” for short) can kill bees outright or, at sublethal but equally dangerous doses, impede their ability to fly the distance to forage properly, navigate their way home, combat pathogens, avoid predators, and reproduce. While pesticide use is catastrophic to the bee population, there are other factors involved in declining numbers.
A Deadly Parasite
Another grave threat to bees is a tiny parasite called the Varroa mite. These mites attach themselves to bees (see photo at right) and suck their blood, which eventually kills them. The mites also transmit deadly viruses that weaken their victim’s immune system. For more on these detrimental critters, go to the BeeAware.org website AND READ MORE HERE.
Photo by AbsoluteFolly
Managed Bees vs. Wild Bees
According to the US Forest Service, there are over 4,000 species of native bees in the United States. But there are also bees for hire that pollinate crops. Managed bees are cultivated by beekeepers who maintain colonies and transport hives across the country in order to pollinate crops, including almonds in California, apples in Pennsylvania, blueberries in Maine, and citrus in Florida. Apis mellifera is the most widely used species of so-called managed bees. These contracted bees are heavily “rented out” to commercial agriculture for pollinating crops worldwide. With wild pollinators in decline, you’d think commercial honeybees could pick up the slack, but they merely supplement the work of their native counterparts, not the other way around. Furthermore, managed bee colonies compete with feral honeybee populations for natural resources (e.g. floral and nesting sites). When managed bees work in their native rather than non-native ranges, their competitive effect is reduced, however, they transmit pathogens to their wild counterparts more often. Studies continue to weigh the benefits and drawbacks of managed honeybees vs. native honeybees, but one thing is clear: diverse wild bee communities increase pollination rates and produce higher crop yields, even alongside managed bees. To learn more about California native bees, GO TO THIS LINK.
In photo below, US migratory beekeepers load tractor-trailer load of bees for transport from South Carolina to Maine to pollinate blueberries.
Bee-friendly Gardening
When bees (and other pollinators) visit your garden, they are looking for nectar and pollen. Bees have favorites like lavender, Mexican sage, and salvia, and are particularly attracted to blue, purple, white, and yellow flowers. It’s no surprise that native bees like native plants, so that’s another good reason to cultivate plants that thrive best in their original habitat. When planning your garden, keep in mind that bees discern large clumps of flowers best and prefer sunny, sheltered spots. For more tips, CLICK ON THIS. Remember that bees need water with their meal of nectar and pollen, so try to provide shallow birdbaths and dishes with rock perches to prevent drowning. To discover other ways you can attract and support wild bees in your garden, check out these links:
https://www.thespruce.com/bee-plants-1401948
https://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/pollinators/animals/bees.shtml
Learn More About Bees!
Wouldn’t it be nice to know a local beekeeper that could share more tips of the trade? Luckily, we know one of the best in the business – the Mt. Diablo Beekeeper’s Association. An instructor from the organization is giving a presentation called “Backyard Beekeeping 201: The Next Level,” at Rodgers Ranch Heritage Center, in Pleasant Hill, on February 20. Think of it as a follow-up to our popular original workshop, “Backyard Beekeeping 101.” This upcoming workshop will cover more intermediate to advanced topics such as pest and disease management, making splits from existing colonies, swarm prevention, and more. For cost and registration, GO HERE.
Don't Forget About the Cleaner Contra Costa Challenge!
Sign up and get started today. One action is replacing your lawn with local, native, drought-tolerant plants, many of which are beloved by bees! You'll find "Replace Your Lawn" among many other do-able, sustainable actions when you VISIT HERE.
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