Saving bees means saving humanity and the planet！
We’ve all seen bees buzzing around in flowers on warm summer days, right? But have you noticed fewer bees now than when you were younger? Don’t worry, it’s not just your imagination!
Unfortunately, bee populations are rapidly declining worldwide. Over the past five decades, we’ve seen a dramatic decrease in bee numbers, with over 13 species going extinct in the last 20 years alone. If we don’t act soon, 10% of wild bee species could be gone within the next five years. That’s a problem!
Why Are Bees on the Brink of Extinction?
There are a few main reasons for the drop in bee populations, but let’s break them down into three major villains:
- Pesticides and Insecticides
- Loss of Natural Habitats
- Varroa Mites (The Bee Parasites)
1. Pesticides and Insecticides
Over the past 50 years, the area dedicated to intensive farming has exploded, and pesticides have played a huge role in that. Pesticides are chemicals sprayed on crops to kill pests that might eat or destroy the crops. They’re very effective, which is why they’re so widely used.
But here’s the catch—many of these pesticides aren’t just bad for pests. They’re also toxic to bees. While bees are out collecting nectar, they often land on crops that have been sprayed. A bee landing on pesticide-treated plants can die instantly or, even worse, get coated in chemicals that mess up its sense of direction and flying ability.
Some bees still make it back to their hive, but they’re often too weak to fight off diseases, and their reproductive abilities take a hit. This harms the whole colony.
A special type of insecticide called neonicotinoids, which are similar to nicotine, is especially bad for bees. These chemicals mess with their nervous system, causing paralysis and, eventually, death. The good news? In 2018, the European Union banned these harmful chemicals, but there are still plenty of others out there causing harm.
2. Loss of Natural Habitats
Bees love the countryside. It’s their natural habitat, where they find food and shelter. Unfortunately, more and more rural areas are being developed for cities or turned into industrialized farming zones. According to Friends of the Earth, the UK alone has lost over 90% of its wildflower meadows since World War II, and many other countries are facing similar issues.
Why is this so bad? Well, bees need a diverse diet to stay healthy, just like us. And they also need a place to hide from extreme weather and predators. Imagine a bee trying to find a quiet nook in a bustling city center. It’s not easy! And when these habitats disappear, it’s a lose-lose situation for both the bees and the plants they pollinate. We need bees, and they need us!
3. Varroa Mites
Think of varroa mites as fleas for bees. These tiny parasites latch onto bees and suck their fat, weakening them and spreading diseases throughout the hive. If left untreated, a varroa infestation can destroy an entire bee colony in just a few months. Talk about a buzzkill!
Why Do Bees Matter?
You might be wondering, “Why should we care about saving bees? They just make honey, right?” Well, it’s much bigger than that!
Albert Einstein once said, “If the bee disappears from the surface of the Earth, man would have only four years left to live. No bees, no pollination, no plants, no animals, no humans.” This is one statement that’s easier to understand than his theories on relativity, but it’s just as important. Bees are a fundamental part of life on Earth!
Bees don’t just make honey. They also do an essential job of pollinating flowers and crops. Without them, many plants wouldn’t be able to reproduce. In fact, around a third of the food we eat relies on bee pollination. That’s right—one-third! Whether it’s your favorite fruits, vegetables, or even almonds, it’s all thanks to bees. And as plant-based foods become more popular, that dependency is only growing. Ever wondered how almond milk is made? Well, billions of bees are responsible for pollinating almond trees!
And the impact doesn’t stop with us. Bees also help keep the food chain intact for other animals. If bees go, the entire ecosystem could collapse, and we might soon find ourselves not just hungry, but cold too—because bees also pollinate cotton plants.
What Can We Do to Help Save the Bees?
Now, don’t panic—there’s still hope! We can all pitch in to help reverse the decline of bee populations with some simple actions:
- Let Your Grass Grow: If you have a garden, try not to mow your lawn too often. Letting the grass grow a bit longer can encourage more wildflowers to bloom, which bees absolutely love. Plus, longer grass helps retain moisture, which is a win-win for both plants and bees.
- Avoid Pesticides: If you’re serious about saving the bees, try not to use pesticides or herbicides in your garden. It’s not just up to farmers and big agricultural businesses to take action—each of us can do our part. A chemical-free garden is a bee-friendly garden!
- Create Bee Habitats: You don’t need a giant farm to create a bee haven. You can plant bee-friendly flowers in your garden or even leave a small patch of wildflowers for the bees to enjoy. If you want to go the extra mile, consider setting up a bee hotel to provide shelter for our buzzing friends.
As poet Emily Dickinson once said, “To make a prairie, it takes a clover and one bee.” Let’s all do our part and help those bees make their prairies!
For more articles on saving the bees, see here.
To learn more about bees and honey, click here.