The buzz on bees

July 2021

Bee populations in the United States are declining at an alarming rate. Since 2006, commercial beekeepers have reported honey bee colony loss rates averaging 30% each winter (in comparison to 10-15% losses in previous years.) Many native bee species such as bumble bees are declining as well.

There are several reasons for this drastic decline, all due to human activity. Urbanization has reduced bee habitats and overgrazing of cattle and sheep has diminished grassland and wildflowers that the bees depend on. Increased use of pesticides and insecticides also plays a role.

Why does this matter?  Because life as we know it is dependent on bees. Bees pollinate as much as 70% of the world’s top 100 food crops, with some such as apples, avocadoes, blueberries, cherries, cucumbers, nuts, squash and sunflowers almost exclusively reliant on bees. Approximately 35% of our diet depends on pollination of crops by bees. If there were no bees, the variety and quantity of food available to us would diminish dramatically.

Help keep bees in your area healthy. Here are four easy ways to keep them buzzing around:

1.      Provide a bee-friendly habitat in your yard or other outdoor space.
In a cement-paved environment, bees’ food sources are very limited. Providing an abundance of bee-attractive blooms in a portion of your yard can help tremendously. This will create dense forage that lets bees build up food reserves for rainy weather and winter survival. Because many ornamental flowers don’t produce enough nectar for bees, opt for bee-attractive blooms like sweet alyssum, sunflowers, coneflowers, bee balm and black-eyed Susan.

Bees need water just as much as humans do. But they have no depth perception and can easily drown in deep collections of water such as bird baths. Provide more shallow options for them to ensure their safety. Several decorative bee baths are now available here with more coming soon:
https://www.newlifeartisans.net/store-2/p/callicoon-bee-bath

2.      Eat bee-friendly food.
The growth of much of our food relies heavily on the use of pesticides which are highly toxic for bees. The less food that is produced using pesticides, the fewer bees that will be exposed to the harmful chemicals. Go organic whenever possible. And buy honey for a natural sweetener, supporting bee populations in managed hives.

3.      Avoid the use of insecticides on your lawn.
If you must use one, check the label before you buy it to see if it’s toxic to bees. Also limit the use of herbicides which are not directly toxic to bees but kill the flowering ‘weeds’ bees need for food.

4.      Don’t kill bees. Gently wave them away or move yourself instead.
Bee populations need all the help they can get. A couple mating pairs in an area could make the difference between an eventually healthy bee population or none at all.

 

Attract Bees Where You Want Them (and Not Where You Don’t)
SCENT
Scent is the number one attractor for bees. Since bees need flowers for food, they’re attracted to sweet flowery scents. Flowery perfumes will attract them just as much as flowers. Other sweet attractors may include shampoo, soap, lipstick and hair products. If you have beehives near you, stay away from fruity fragrances.

FLOWERS
Bee balm, black-eyed Susan and coneflowers draw bees’ attention and provide the nourishment they need. Besides the scent of flowers, they’re also attracted to the shape, texture and design of the blooms. Several flowers entice bees by displaying stripes, ridges or spots pointing to the center of the flower where the food is.

COLORS
Bees are attracted to bright colors, especially yellow, blue and purple. Bees are color blind so can’t identify all the colors found in nature. Red appears green to them, though they can see reddish wavelengths like orange. Bees get aggressive when they see dark colors such as dark blue and dark red. They may even attack a person wearing those colors because their predators have the same colors. It’s best to wear white or light-colored clothes if you’re near a beehive or are allergic to bee stings.

HERBS
Bees are attracted to herbs because of their scents, plus the single-petaled flowers make it easy for bees to collect nectar. Some of bees’ favorite herbs include borage, rosemary, thyme, catnip, sage, lavender, chamomile, lemon balm and basil.

SWEAT
Bees and other small flying creatures are highly attracted by sweat and the salts contained within. There’s not much you can do about that, but be aware the next time you’re working out outside. Some people’s sweat seems more attractive, so know if you’re one of their favorites.

FOOD
Sugary foods and drinks like soda, pineapple and watermelon attract bees because of their smell. Other foods with strong aromas, like fried chicken or barbeque, will also attract them. If you’re eating outside, keep food in airtight containers for as long as possible before eating.

Bees are an essential component of life on earth. Follow the above tips to co-mingle with them peacefully, for their benefit as well as ours.

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