Bees need help.
(Mirror Daily, United States) – Everyone knows that bees are an essential part of the world ecosystem as they contribute to its balance by pollinating. Based on the statistics from the United States Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), birds, butterflies, bees, and other pollinators contribute in the reproduction of around 80 percent of all flowering plant species.
It means that they pollinate more than a third of the food crops on the planet, such as cocoa, almonds, carrots, apples, coffee, strawberries, pepper, tomatoes, and many others. We can’t imagine what would happen if we stopped having pollinators. Experts believe that most probably we would all begin to starve.
Furthermore, all pollinators, including birds, bats, and bees contribute with 87 percent of world’s food production. But bees and other pollinators have suffered a decline over the last few years because of human ignorance, pesticides, and climate change.
Nowadays, companies, governments, farmers, and gardeners are trying to find new methods to protect pollinators and to encourage the spread of commercial ones. In 2015, a new bee hive was invented that allowed beekeepers to collect the honey without stressing the bees.
Experienced beekeepers underline the fact that stressed colonies are more likely to develop a disease. Plus, independent hives are very useful because they reduce the risk of viruses and mites between colonies which are close to each other. In addition to this, they boost genetic diversity of bees and increase the local crop fertilization.
However, if you want to make sure that your bees make the best honey, then you should plant native species around the place where your hives are. Native species usually require less water, so you won’t have problems maintaining them. Plus, non-native flowering plants most likely do not have enough nectar or pollen.
It is also worth mentioning that you should avoid using fungicides, herbicides, and pesticides because most of them are a threat for pollinators, especially bees. Experts advise beekeepers to rely on a natural fertilizer and non-chemical treatment to deal with pests.
Another important aspect is that you should know how to arrange your garden so that your bees can do their job more efficiently. Therefore, you should avoid heavy mulch and weed mulch because many native species of bees usually nest underground. Plus, fallen organic material such as dead or dying trees, rotting logs, and stumps make a great nest for honey bees.
Image Source:Mental Floss