Since plants can't move around to mate, honey bees transfer pollen from the anther of the male plant to the stigma of the female plant to generate reproduction. Seeds grow and plant life continues. But pollination can occur when wind and water transfer pollen and many animals deliver pollen, including birds, butterflies, bats, and humans. In fact, about 100 thousand animal species participate in pollination with animals pollinating 90 percent of flowers and three-quarters of staple crops.
Insects move more quickly from flower to flower than other pollinators. But bees are said to be the most perfect pollinator, as their bodies are crafted to pick up pollen on their hairs and with other body parts as they move about sipping nectar, returning to the hive to make wax. They use no other resources and they do practically no harm.
Colony Collapse
During a presentation for the seminar “What’s Happening to our Native Plants and Animals” held at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science on September 22, 2010, Virginia’s Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services apiarist said that current bees and beekeepers in Virginia have encountered significant problems that could affect agriculture in the state. But Keith Tignor added that this isn’t a problem in Virginia alone. Beekeepers around the world are having trouble keeping their populations of pollinators happy.
According to the USDA, “Honey bee health decline has been documented for years. The known negative honey bee health challenges are attributable to parasites, diseases and environmental toxins.” Pesticides and the loss of land and food sources due to urbanization are also to blame for the disappearance of honey bees. However colony collapse disorder is largely due to the declining health of the bees.
Beekeepers transport hives of bees from crop to crop and the demands of the industrial use of bees results in stresses that ultimately affects the health of bees. In a short video entitled “Every Third Bite,” small-scale beekeepers tell viewers more about the unhealthy impact of large-scale commercial use of honey bees.
Honey Bees as an Early Invasive Species
Honey bees were brought from Europe to the Jamestown colony in Virginia in 1620. Historians tell us that beehives were sent to Jamestown with seeds and fruit trees that investors hoped to develop as an industry. The bees spread out and multiplied quickly, as is the case with many non-native species that are moved to another part of the world where no predators have co-evolved with them to keep their numbers in balance.
Cultivating Native Bees
Because of the collapse of honey bees and since no cure is in sight, researchers are studying the more aggressive use of native bees, that live near fields year round, over having beekeepers bring their hives to crops as needed. Can native bees be cultivated to replace the pollinating productivity of the honey bee? The answer, they believe, is yes. Some say they are even more efficient.
To help native bees, farmers and environmentally-minded individuals who want to help are encouraged to learn more about their habitat and cultivate areas to attract a variety of native bees. Native bee usually nest in the ground. Hedgerows support native bee populations and native wildflowers attract bees to their nectar. Planting flowers within fields of food crops is a recommended strategy. A lot of other plants are necessary to provide food and thereby encourage native bees to stay year-round, not just when the crops need to be pollinated. The National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service site recommends native plants, nest boxes, and other encouragements for native bees.
Individuals who wish to help can plant a variety of flowers in their yards and eliminate the use of mulch, since it prohibits grown nesting. Don’t plant large areas of grass. The more natural the yard (the more dandelions!), the more bees will be attracted to pollinate garden vegetables and flowers before heading to a nearby farmer’s field.
Sara E. Lewis - Sara E. Lewis is a writer and publications consultant. As a freelancer, she writes and produces marketing materials and especially enjoys ...
