‘Bee’ a good neighbor for these insects
Although it’s winter, one concern in our community and across the globe is the loss of bees and pollination.
Sure, everyone knows they bring the flowers, trees and all those great vegetables that grow in your home garden, but on a larger scale they are considered essential to the world’s food chain.
About two-thirds of the crop plants that feed the world rely on pollination by insects to produce healthy fruits and seeds for human consumption.
Sampling near Penn State’s Fruit Research and Extension Center shows a decline in bee populations.
“Bees are one of the most important groups of pollinators, but previous research has found troubling declines among wild bees,” said study lead author Nash Turley, a postdoctoral scholar at Penn State. “For example, the range and abundance of some species have shrunk substantially, especially bumble bees in North America and Europe. Tracking changes in bee biodiversity is important for developing pollinator management plans that can help sustain wild plant communities and maximize crop yields.”
Only about 8% of the landscape is active orchards, and all of them are pollinated only by wild pollinators. If that does not happen, active orchards will no longer exist and your children will never experience plucking a juicy red apple from a tree.
Entomologists are studying the reasons behind the massive bee decline worldwide. Beekeepers across the United States lost 45.5% of their managed honey bee colonies from April 2020 to April 2021, according to the results of the annual nationwide survey conducted by the nonprofit Bee Informed Partnership.
Here is what you can you do to help bring back bees:
• Prevent and reverse habitat loss. Bees need environments to build homes and have plentiful food sources. Research and learn what flowers and trees are best for attracting bees
• Buy organic produce: Organic produce is grown without the use of pesticides and therefore does not have chemicals that can kill bees.
• Plant flowers and plants that bees pollinate: If you have a garden, you can plant certain plants that attract bees and other pollinators. Try to plant using organic seeds and avoid using fungicides or pesticides.
I urge you to get involved before it is too late.
If we lose the bees we will not only lose the beauty of the flowers, shrubs or home gardens. The bees and pollination is the foundation to a healthy food chain.