Bees are a vital part of our ecosystem. If our native bees became extinct, wildflower populations and in turn other insects and birds, would plummet and one-third of our diet would be lost. If all the pollinators disappeared overnight, so would 9.5% of the total value of global agriculture production used for food. Three species of bee have already became extinct and five are currently under threat.
The most obvious reason for why we need bees is pollination. Flying flower to flower, they pick up pollen specks on their wings and bodies, which are unknowingly carried and deposited all over the countryside and our gardens. Have you ever wondered how a pretty wildflower sprung up in the lawn? it was most likely because of a bee. Flowers are not brightly coloured to please the human eye, it is so bees and other pollinating insects will be drawn to them and reseed them somewhere else.
Bees, as well as helping the flowers themselves, help other mammals and birds by increasing the number of plants and flowers which other animals use as shelter , nesting material and food. Bees themselves are also food for Swallows, Bee-eaters , House martins, Frogs, Toads, other insects and Shrikes. Even Honey Buzzards will dig out bee nests to feed on the larva.
Of course, besides from all their good effects on the ecosystem, bees provide us with some really useful products. Honey is not only good as a sweetener, it can be used as cough syrup, dressings for severe burns, and because of it’s antibiotic properties, it can also be used to treat ulcers, infections and allergies. They also provide us with beeswax which is used in hundreds of products we use everyday – probably without even thinking about it.
It is not easy to say why so many bee species are becoming threatened or endangered, because it is a mixture of things. Pesticides will play a part, in some studies it has been believed to damage bees brains, affecting how they look for food and communicate with others within their colony. A disease called Colony Collapse Disorder is one of the main factors that is causing the decline of Honey bees, though the cause for this phenomenon is unknown. The decline of some of the wildflowers that they gather nectar from is sure to play a part too.
Apart from the vital role they play in the natural world, we should want to help them solely because a countryside without the melodious hum of bees in the background is no countryside at all.
Photo by Ellie and article written by Amy (Nature__lover)
Very interesting article; you have clearly given a lot of time (and life?) to this. As an amateur poet I have dabbled in an eclectic mix of subjects, but recently joined the RSPB Community and wrote a poem for the ‘About / Biog’ bit, which might amuse you (or not as the case may be): http://poetjanstie.wordpress.com/2011/04/27/listen-with-mother-nature/…