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Bee populations have been declining globally over recent decades due to habitat loss, intensive farming practices, changes in weather patterns and the excessive use of agrochemicals such as pesticides. This in turn poses a threat to a variety of plants critical to human well-being and livelihoods.
- Habitat Loss
- Climate Change
- Parasites and Diseases
- Invasive Species
- Honey Bees
As development increases, bee habitat decreases, with woods, trees, grassland and even gardens being destroyed or paved over. The rise in intensive farming methods has also left bees struggling. A staggering 97% of wildflower meadows have been lost since the 1930s, reducing an important food resource for bees. With pesticides and herbicides sprayed...
Climate changeand the extreme weather it can cause disrupts bee nesting behaviour and alters normal seasonal timings, so flowers may bloom earlier or later than expected. Planting more trees is helping to mitigate some of the effects of climate change, but it's still a serious issue that could prove deadly for many of our bees.
Research has found that five viruses known to cause disease in honey bees have been passed to our wild bumblebee population. It isn't yet clear whether these are also circulating in solitary bee populations.
Some non-native species can cause havoc for our native species. The Asian hornet,Vespa velutina nigrithorax,for example, has had a catastrophic impact amongst wild bee populations in France, preying on both solitary and bumblebees. Our bees could be in serious trouble if it establishes itself in the UK too.
Unfortunately, the upswell in the popularity of beekeeping hasn't been great news for the UK's bees. The shipping of managed honey bees between countries saw the varroa mite – a parasite that feeds on honey bees – arrive on our shores in the 1990s. The mites jumped to our wild honey bees and, combined with a rise in other diseases, wiped them out a...
Insects (like bees) play a key role helping flowering plants to reproduce. For plants to make seeds, pollen has to get from one plant to another. This process is called pollination. Powdery...
Aug 22, 2021 · But why are bees so important? The simplest answer is that bees pollinate food crops. Pollination occurs when insects — like bees and other pollinators — travel from one plant to the next, fertilizing the plant. Bees have little hairs all over their body that attract pollen.
Jul 25, 2017 · Bees are perfectly adapted to pollinate, helping plants grow, breed and produce food. They do so by transferring pollen between flowering plants and therefore keeping the cycle of life turning. The vast majority of plants we need for food rely on pollination, especially by bees: from almonds and vanilla to apples and squash.
May 18, 2021 · Why are bees important? Impact on humans. How to help bees. Summary. Bees are essential for the health of people and the planet. Honey and other products have medicinal...
Jul 22, 2022 · Bees are vital for maintaining the balance between living organisms such as human beings, plants, and animals, as well as their environment. They also help reduce...
