The Birds and the Bees

Aug 5, 2022 | Blog

The birds and the bees? Just kidding.

That’s a post for another time. Or never. Yeah, probably never.

While some birds are super cool, and they definitely keep our insect populations in check…

They will never be as VITAL to our existence as the bees.

Bee Engaged

World Bee Day is just around the corner…buzzing in on August 20th this year.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations [FAO] has themed this year’s celebration: Bee engaged – Celebrating the diversity of bees and beekeeping systems. Check out their website for a registration link to the virtual event featuring presentations from bee experts the world over: https://www.fao.org/world-bee-day/en/

Just the Facts, Ma’am

It’s estimated that bee species alone pollinate 80% of the world’s flowering plants. For those of you who didn’t pay attention in Biology class, that vital step in the plant production cycle is required for many species to produce fruit and the seeds required to perpetuate the planting of subsequent generations.

We don’t want to get too far into the weeds, but here’s a reminder that “fruit” for plants is anything that contains seeds. So, if you’re unconcerned because you’re not a huge fruit fan, remember that the plants that rely on pollination also include most of the fruits we think of as “vegetables.”

Who wants a world without salsa? Not us.

If biology wasn’t your jam, how about a transitive property of mathematics analogy:

Our lives depend on food propagation.

Food propagation depends on pollination.

Therefore, our lives depend on pollination.

Boom.

The Problem

Honeybee populations are being wiped out. From parasitic mites to widespread use of chemical sprays, their species are under attack. Bees are social insects with high interdependency and specialized roles. When external pressures from parasites to pesticides become too great, colony collapse disorder strikes, wiping out entire bee communities at once.

The cost of “renting bees” (yes, that’s a thing) to pollinate crops is soaring. That increase must get passed on to consumers as many farmers operate on too narrow and risky a margin to absorb it. Adding to the burden, our weather patterns are rapidly changing: Droughts, floods, and wildfires are literally changing the landscape that current farming practices operate in. We need to figure this out. And fast.

Apiarists, or beekeepers, have some options for raising bees and managing their hives to minimize the devastating impact of varroa mites. (The mite’s biological name is actually Varroa destructor, if that gives a clue into how science regards them.) What beekeepers cannot control, however, is the impact of neighboring properties that their bees frequent for pollen collection and pollination.

Your Role and How to Help

Do you have a yard service that applies chemicals to your lawn or other plantings? How about those “mosquito eradication” folks?

There are three primary chemical types these companies utilize: fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides.

While some fertilizers are labeled as “organic” or “bee-safe,” they may contain ingredients like heavy metals that are damaging to bees, just not as quickly as true pesticides that can kill on contact.

This brings us to herbicides, or weed killers, that are found in the “weed and feed” variety of lawn care products. These herbicides were long considered not to have a direct impact on bees, but research shows they negatively impact bee populations in two ways. First, herbicides have been found to impact the gut flora of bees, which makes them more susceptible to infection. Second, herbicides turn lawns into those lush grass-only environments that are completely devoid of native flora that feed bees. Widespread use of herbicides in suburban neighborhoods literally creates a food desert for local honeybees. Consider transforming some of your existing lawn space into beds for flowering plants or shrubs or even into an expansive food garden (for you and the bees).

Take another look at the cover photo above…That’s one of our own backyards converted into a bee-friendly, chemical-free oasis.

Pesticides are bee killers. If you read the fine print on the packaging, there is often a tiny warning about application in any area frequented by bees. If there are any alternate methods for insect or pest control, consider using them. Avoid pesticide use at all costs.

Finally, see if there are local beekeepers in your area. Buy their honey. Ask if there are additional ways you can support their efforts.