Honey bees are an amazing asset to our environment since they pollinate almost 90% of all wild plants and 75% of leading global crops.

One out of every three mouthfuls of our food depend on pollinators such as bees, and crops that depend on pollination from bees are five times more valuable than those that do not. Bees are the only insect that produces food for humans. Honey keeps extremely well, as evidenced by a pot of honey that was found in good condition in King Tut’s tomb!

Research has shown that the Queen honey bees live on average 1-2 years, whereas worker bees live on average 15-38 days in the summer and 150-200 days in the winter.

Queen bees become sexually mature six days after emergence and then take orientation flights and two or three mating flights per day. On average, they mate with 17 drones and store all of the sperm needed to fertilize eggs for the duration of their lifespan. After completing mating flights, they return to the hive, where they engage in egg-laying activities. They remain in the hive, where they lay an amazing 1,500-2,000 eggs per day throughout their lives. An average hive has 50,000 to 60,000 worker bees. So, with what seems like a massive production, what could be the problem?

For decades, the honey bee population has declined due to habitat loss, increased use of pesticides and insecticides, disease, and more. These losses have serious implications for food production and ecosystem health. In the spring of 2022, more than 40% of all colonies were afflicted with varroa mites, a parasite that targets bees. Yet despite this colony collapse, commercial honey bee populations have increased by 10% since 2006, thanks in part to the close monitoring of colony health by the CDC and the EPA. Overall, this up-and-down fluctuation seems to have leveled off for now, but the colonies are very sensitive to any new factors that might be introduced.

Unfortunately, the wild bees, which are responsible for pollinating the plants native to their environment, are in a slow and steady decline.

While commercial honey bees are adept at pollinating many different species of plants, wild bees are more efficient at pollinating specific crops in their area. To combat this problem, commercial honey bee hives have been temporarily moved to support agricultural needs where there is a decline in the wild bee population.

On a broader scale, there are 4,000 bee species in this country that pollinate 80% of all flowering plants, including more than 130 types of fruits and vegetables. In fact, every year, they pollinate $15 billion worth of U.S. crops – the very food we eat.

With all of that in mind, is there anything you and I can do to aid in the decline of the wild bee population? Fortunately, the answer is yes, there is. Whether you are a homeowner or a landowner, there are a couple of things to consider toward enhancing the wild bee population. One is in the area of forest management, and the other is regarding the landscaping you do around your own property.

When a timber cut is made, usually landing sites are created where logs are stacked to be hauled out at a later time. In the past, after the logs were removed, annual wheat or annual rye was planted to avert runoff and reduce sedimentation.

These grains, however, were not attractive to pollinators. Thus, a three-year study was conducted on several national forest sites to create a diverse range of flora that would benefit pollinators. In conclusion, success was achieved by planting a combination of seeds of native flora along with a pollinator seed mix. When a timber cut is made, it might be advisable to establish some sites that are clear-cut, meaning all trees are removed.

This will allow the growth of blackberries, raspberries, and other flowering plants, which will be used by wild bees.

If you are a homeowner, consider planting flowers or flowering trees or shrubs that would be used by wild bees. Not only will you add to the attractiveness of your landscaping, but you would have the added satisfaction of knowing that you are aiding the population of wild bees.