Your Friend, the Bee
You hear a small hum and see an insect buzzing about. She hones in on your beloved lavender and delicately alights on a purple flower. She disregards your presence and focuses on her task at hand of collecting pollen for her colony. She is a worker bee, and she, along with her fellow bees, is an essential part of our planet.
These creatures are little in size but vital for agricultural success. How do they do it? Pollination. Some plants are capable of reproduction on their own, but many need the help of external sources. Bees--among other creatures--collect nectar for their own use, but their work doubles in aiding plant reproduction. Pollen must transfer from the stamen (male) to the pistil (female). Once complete, the plant prepares itself in creating a new plant. Seeds, fruits, or nuts are formed. Thus, these products become available for the benefit of all creatures.
Around one-sixth of the planet’s flowering species are pollinated by bees. The insects have a heavy burden to bear, but it’s one they carry with diligence. One honeybee can visit 50-1000 flowers in a single outing! Many plants depend on bees for survival. Produce such as squash, watermelon, passion fruit, and macadamia nuts would cease to exist if bees disappeared. Other plants--such as avocados, apples, cucumbers, almonds, and blueberries--would suffer significantly without the bees’ help.
Extinction of bees would affect other species. Many animals rely on pollinators for their food supply, so insects are a prominent member of the ecosystem. Pollination allows for plant survival. Animals that feed on plants only pollinated by bees would face dire conditions if bees vanished. If those animals were to die out, the entire food chain would be altered. Carnivorous creatures would lose their food supply and be forced towards a new diet, or they would perish. Bees are crucial to the ecosystem and food chain. They sustain so much life!
Bees’ declining numbers have led to a lot of buzz in the media. The little creatures are so important for life as we know it, and it is our responsibility to help bees continue their influential work. There are many ways to help bees thrive!
Have your own hive! Beekeeping is a big step in bee-ing kind towards your small neighbors, but it is so beneficial! The bees will beautify your yard while providing you with a tasty snack—honey! In turn, you will be making a positive impact on bee survival.
Plant a bee garden. If your garden is welcoming to the bees, they may decide to settle in! Diversity is important when it comes to choosing flowers. Cultivate flowers of different sizes and shapes, and have a variety so blooms last year-round. Bees are partial to some specific ones; pansies, milkweed, and lavender are bees’ favorites—to name a few. Along with low-lying flowers, trees provide shelter and sustenance for bees. Include a shallow pool of water for bees to drink, but don’t forget to give them a landing space. Not only will a garden encourage bees to your home, but it will also be a relaxing and wondrous place in your yard.
Avoid using harmful chemicals in your yard. Synthetic chemicals (such as pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, and fertilizers) threaten bees and their livelihoods. Neonicotinoid is a very dangerous chemical found in many pesticides, and it should always be avoided. Search for natural, bee-friendly products when your yard is in need of aid.
Build a bee house! Many bees are solitary creatures and do not live in social hives. Solitary bees and bumblebees prefer to live alone. ‘Bee condos’ are widely available and can easily be built. These structures act as dwellings for mason bees, docile creatures that will pollinate your garden.
Bees are wonderful creatures that help the planet thrive. They pollinate so much of the plants we know and love, and bees balance ecosystems across the world. We have so much to thank bees for, so it is important that we promote their existence. Bees are small in size, but their work speaks volumes.