Why Bee Decline Matters

Bees. As human beings, we are either fascinated by them, scared of them, or more often than not, rather indifferent to them. Many consider bees to be cute, artistic devices we can use to portray nice messages on mugs, t-shirts or honey jars:
Or, for others, bees are seen as scary, stinging insects that are more harmful than beneficial.

But however we feel about bees, we should never be indifferent to them! Bees are incredibly valuable to the world’s ecosystems. The role of bees goes far, far beyond just the honey we enjoy; they provide a critical ecosystem service through the pollination of a vast array of crops and wild plants. According to a paper put out by Utah State University, over 75% of flowering plant species are reliant on bees. That statistic includes most of our food crops. So, bees, whether you deem them cute or scary, are responsible for not only the flowers you enjoy, but also for every one in three bites of food you eat! To be indifferent is to deny the important role these pollinators play in our everyday lives.

 A few bee facts:

1. Scientifically, bees are in the Order: Hymenoptera, with seven distinct bee families throughout the world. Interestingly, many of our native backyard bees, but also the non-native honey bees, are in Apidae family, while the popular mason bee is in the Megachilidae family.
2. There are over 20,000 species of bees in the world. North America is home to around 4,000 species of bees. Of those North American bee species, over 600 live in Washington State alone. The exact number of species worldwide is still unknown.
3. Adult bees range in size from a few millimeters to just over one-and-a-half inches. But they are all pollinators.
4. We often say, “busy as a bee,” but do we really comprehend how busy they are? The average honey bee can, conservatively, visit around 1,000 flowers a day; 5,000 on a really productive day!
5. The species diversity we see in all pollinators, including bees, is vitally important. Many flowering plants have coevolved with a single species of pollinator and have become reliant on that specific species for survival.

The Bad News

Bee health first gained attention in 2006 with the emergence of Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD). CCD is described as a phenomenon where a large portion of the adult worker bees in a colony disappear, leaving just a few nurse bees behind to care for the queen and the few remaining immature bees. The exact cause of CCD is still unknown, but it is thought to be due to a multitude of factors working in combination to adversely affect the hive.

As worrisome as CCD is to the decline of our honey bee populations, it is becoming increasingly clear that all bees are declining in abundance in many parts of the world. This loss is largely due to intensive farming practices, mono-cropping, excessive use of agricultural chemicals, climate change, and habitat loss.

Habitat loss, due to urban development and other activities that degrade naturalized areas, negatively affect not just bee species, but all pollinators that are reliant on plant diversity. Bees require a variety of plants to get the nutrients they need to keep them healthy and resilient to stress. Roads and overly manicured landscapes can become barriers to bee movement. These restrictive conditions often lead to unsuitable and nutritionally poor habitats which can significantly affect pollinator health and diversity. The agricultural practice of growing food crops in large monocultural plots of land also has the unfortunate effect of significantly reducing a bee’s choice of plant selection. For generalist bees, such as the honey bee, it has been likened to a human eating only sardines one month and then only chocolate the next! (Goulson et al., 2015).

Besides poor nutrition from a lack of plant diversity, competition with other pollinators is also a factor contributing to bee loss. With the introduction of the honey bee, other non-native insects, and many exotic weeds combined with habitat loss, competition for essential resources has increased significantly for native bee populations.

A third factor affecting bee decline is the over use of pesticides. Many pesticides (i.e., insecticides, fungicides, and herbicides) are harmful to bees, especially when not used as directed. The improper use of any pesticide not only negatively affect bees, but can also be harmful to all beneficial insects, as well as animals, birds, and even yourself!

Out of all the factors impacting bee health, many viruses and pests have an intensifying effect on overall bee decline. The Varroa mite is probably the most recognizable bee pest due to its high level of coverage in the news. This mite is an invasive, external parasite, and is thought to play a large role in CCD disorder as they further weaken a bee’s already weak immune system, making the bees more susceptible to pathogens. Unfortunately, some of the pathogens that bees are susceptible to can be passed from one species of bee to another through shared habitat resources, mainly through the flowers they seek for food.

More bad news: The human cost to pollinator decline

The loss of pollinators will eventually affect not only wild plants and the animals that rely on them, but will also affect our own agricultural crop yields. Lower crop yields will eventually lead to a loss in world-wide nutritional resources. In a speech given for World Bee Day, the former head of the Food and Agriculture Organization, Director-General José Graziano da Silva stated, "Bees are under great threat...the absence of bees and other pollinators would wipe out coffee, apples, almonds, tomatoes and cocoa to name just a few of the crops that rely on pollination.” As nutritious crop yields from such agricultural products such as fruits, nuts, and many vegetables decline, staple crops like rice, corn, and potatoes, will be increasingly relied upon, eventually resulting in an imbalanced diet for many populations. To put it more succinctly, pollinator loss is a direct threat to the world’s food supply.

The Good News!

With the numerous onslaughts affecting our bees, it may seem like there is no hope for their survival! However, there is a lot of good news and opportunity for optimism as well. For example, many scientists and environmental organizations are working with farmers and beekeepers to not only restore pollinator habitat but also to improve honey bee health through proper hive management and improved nutritional feeding regimes. One way farmers and beekeepers work to improve health is by locating hives, used to pollinate agricultural fields, close to nearby wildlife conservation areas. This small change has proven to enhance honey bee performance and health.

However, the best news is that we don’t have to wait anxiously on the sidelines as scientists and farmers work to save our pollinators. Pollinator health is something everyone can contribute to, even in your own backyard. Whether you live on an estate with several acres or in a small apartment with a balcony, you can make a difference in the health and diversity of our bees. Here are a few ways to encourage pollinators in your area:

1. Plant pollinator-friendly flowers. Specifically, consider planting flowers that are native to the Pacific Northwest. Native plants not only provide food but also form the foundation of good pollinator habitats. There are many online and other sources, including local nurseries, that can help you choose the plants that will best feed and nourish our native pollinators.
2. Plant a pollinator-friendly garden. Focus on creating a diverse floral habitat that will bloom from late winter/early spring all the way through fall. If you have an apartment, try incorporating native plants and pollinator-friendly flowers into your floral containers.
3. Supply water sources and cool, shady areas where bees can rest. Also consider incorporating a native bee nesting block to encourage cavity-nesting bees as well.
4. Try “keeping it natural.” Yards that are not overly maintained provide good habitat for many pollinators. For example, areas of unraked leaves provide safe hibernating spots for bumble bees and other beneficial insects.
5. Avoid pesticides. If at all possible try to maintain your garden in a natural and organic way. If you must use a pesticide, look for the EPA’s new ‘Bee Advisory’ box on the label for specific instructions and advisements.
6. Become a citizen scientist. There are numerous projects such as Bumble Bee Watch as well as other groups that contribute information to help researchers better assess pollinator populations and health.
7. Volunteer with an environmental restoration group in your community. There are many volunteer groups that meet in parks and other open spaces (with permission of course) to help remove invasive plant species and replant with natives. It’s not only a wonderful way to meet others, but a great way to provide good habitat not only for bees but for other wildlife as well.

To recap, bee decline matters! It matters a lot. These small insects have a huge impact on the world we live in. Bee decline has the frightening potential to negatively impact the world we know and the food crops we rely on. But there are countless ways that we can reverse the trend of decline. We can have a positive impact on the environment we, and the bees, live in. So, whether we are fascinated by bees or scared of them, we should never be indifferent to them. We can start working with our pollinators and we can do this by looking at our own backyard to begin making a difference.