WHY WE NEED TO PROTECT BEES

WORLD BEE DAY

World Bee Day is celebrated on May 20th every year in an effort to raise awareness of the significant role that bees play in sustaining healthy ecosystems and ensuring food security.

WHY WE NEED TO PROTECT BEES

Bees are a keystone species that our ecosystem largely depends on. Bees are essential pollinators who contribute to plant reproduction, crop production, and honey production. Bees assist in the growth of over 75 percent of the nation's crops, such as fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds.

According to a study conducted by the University of California, Berkeley, bees are responsible for pollinating 35% of commercially grown food crops in the United States alone. About one-third of the food consumed by Americans is made up of pollinator-dependent crops.

In nature, many animals rely on bee pollination for their food supply, which includes nuts, berries, seeds, fruits, and even honey. Bee pollination also promotes floral growth, which provides habitat for insects and birds while also improving ecological well-being .

THREATS TO BEES

The bee population is being threatened by factors such as climate change, pollution, habitat loss, and pesticide use. Over 34% of California's native bee species are considered at risk of extinction.

Climate Change: Climate change affects bees by disrupting seasonal bloom times, drastically altering temperatures, altering water availability, and habitat fragmentation. For example, spring flowers have been blooming earlier in the season, drastically reducing the bee’s chance to feed on the pollen.

Pollution: Air pollution can decrease bees’ ability to navigate their surroundings, which affects their foraging and pollination efficiency. In addition, pollution can change plant scents, making it difficult for bees to identify food sources. Pollution also harms bees’ immune and respiratory systems Loss of

Habitat: Land use changes and industrialization, creates habitat fragmentation and affects bees’ foraging and mating capabilities.

Pesticides: Overexposure to pesticides and herbicides can kill the bees or severely weaken the health of a bee colony.

HOW LANDSCAPE DESIGN CAN HELP SAVE THE BEES

Sustainable landscape design can support bee conservation by providing bees with food and diverse habitats. Implementing sustainable landscape practices in your yard can help bees while also enhancing the beauty of your outdoor space.

Native Planting

● Planting native, bee-friendly plants and flowers can help provide nectar and pollen for local bees.

● Planting a variety of flowers that bloom at different times of the year ensures a continuous food supply for bees.

● Planting in large clusters helps bees easily forage and locate pollen.

● Choosing plants in a variety of colors and shapes helps attract bees.

Providing Habitat

● Native plants can offer bees habitat, nesting sites, and shelter from the elements.

Sustainable Landscape Design

● Sustainable design avoids pesticide and herbicide use, which can harm bees.

● Multi-layered landscape design with trees, shrubs, and groundcovers increase shelter and food opportunities for bees.

● Water features such as shallow pools and birdbaths provide water for bees. World Bee Day serves as a reminder of the importance of bees and how they sustain human and environmental well-being. It is up to us to protect and preserve our bee population!

FUN FACTS ABOUT BEES

● A honey bee visits 50 to 100 flowers during a pollen collection trip

● The average bee will make only 1/12th of a teaspoon of honey in its lifetime

● Bees must gather nectar from two million flowers to make one pound of honey

● One bee has to fly about 90,000 miles – three times around the globe – to make one pound of honey

● Honey has antiseptic properties and was historically used as a first aid treatment

● The practice of beekeeping dates back at least 4,500 years

● Bees communicate with a ‘waggle dance’. A figure-eight pattern followed by a waggle-run where the bee waggles its abdomen. The angle, length, and intensity of the waggle-run indicates the direction, distance, and even the quality of the food source!