The Power of Pollinators
The United States alone has 2.8 million honeybee hives, which equals to more than 50 billion honeybees flying around farms and residential areas every summer. However, settlers from England brought the first honeybees to North America in 1622, even though the continent already had more than 4,000 species of wild bees. Many of these wild bees' species are solitary, meaning that they live and work alone.
Wild bees come in all shapes, sizes, and colors and are crucial to the pollination process, with more than 80% of all plant species relying on animals to move their pollen from flower to flower. Bees are the best pollinators, and even though honeybees are the most talked-about, wild bees can be just as effective. Unfortunately, bee populations around the world are dwindling due to human impact. In 2017, the rusty patched bumblebee became the first North American bee species to be listed as an endangered species in the US, and half of the wild bee species may be declining, with half of those possibly at risk of extinction.
There are ways people can help wild bees, such as providing them with nesting places, avoiding using insecticides and harmful chemicals, and growing flowering plants native to the area.
Video Summary:
- The US has 2.8 million honeybee hives and more than 50 billion honeybees in the summer.
- North America had more than 4,000 species of wild bees before honeybees were brought over.
- Wild bees come in all shapes, sizes, and colors and are essential to pollination.
- Bees are the best pollinators, and wild bees can be just as effective as honeybees.
- Half of the wild bee species may be declining, and half of those may be at risk of extinction.
- People can help wild bees by providing them with nesting places, avoiding harmful chemicals, and growing flowering plants.