Wild Bees Are Dying

Wild Bees Are Dying

Did you know that, with the exception of honey bees, most bees are solitary creatures? 70% of bees live underground, while 30% live in holes inside of trees or hollow stems.

Wild Bees Are Important Pollinators

One in every three bites of food we eat is made possible by bees. They pollinate almonds, apples, blueberries, squash, tomatoes and many other popular crops. They also pollinate alfalfa, which we feed to farm animals, so they support the meat component of our diet too.

We need bees for food security and to maintain healthy ecosystems. Bees pollinate flowering trees and wildflowers, which in turn provide food and homes for other animals and improve water, air and soil quality

Wild bees have a unique way of extracting pollen from flowers called “buzz pollination.” By shaking flowers at a certain frequency, more pollen will be released, thus allowing for more efficient pollination. Honey bees can’t do this

Air Pollution Threatens bees

According to researchers at Penn State University, air pollution significantly interferes with the ability of bees to locate much-needed food. Not only does pollution effectively confuse bees, but it also mixes in with the scent particles released by flowers. Flowers depend on such molecules to lure hungry bees; pollutants disrupt this process by hindering these particles’ traveling capabilities, in addition to slashing their lifespans.

How to help save wild bees

Saving the bees is a big job- but taking action is easy! By starting in your own community, you can help make our world a healthier place for bees. Here are some things that you can do to save our bees:

·            Avoid harmful pesticides.

·              Plant a bee-friendly garden.

·              Bees Need Trees.

·              Build homes for wild bees.