Our world can not function without bees. It is estimated by the United States Department of Agriculture that bees and butterflies pollinate 75% of flowering plants and 35% of the world’s food crops. This post will focus on the helper bees, including bumble bees and honey bees. I will explain the differences between bees; what pollination is and the importance of it; the mutualistic relationships between bees and flowers; what types of flowers attract the pollinators; and finally how and why the bee population has become so fragile and what can be done to prevent theses pollinators from becoming extinct.
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Honey Bees or Bumble Bees? What’s the Difference?
There are nearly 20,000 different species of bees worldwide. However, the most common are the honey bees and bumble bees. They actively seek out flowers, unlike hummingbirds who just flit around looking for nectar.
Honey bees are smaller and thinner than bumble bees and can be mistaken for wasps. They also have a clear distinction between their head and body along with 2 sets of wings; one larger set up front and one smaller set behind.
Bumble bees are larger, more plump, round and fuzzy. Their bodies are also in one clump or section, not divided like honey bees.
The honey bees are much more social. They like to live closely together in hives with tens of thousands of other bees. Honey bees can be found in hollow trees or in a controlled environment operated by a beekeeper. They produce lots of honey and can survive cold winters. Their queen can live up to 4 years.
Bumble bees are a little less social. They live in nests usually found burrowed in the ground. They too produce honey but only for their own consumption. The queen bee is the only one who will survive cold winters by hibernating deep under the ground.
Bumble bees are the best pollinators due to their large size which enables them to carry more pollen. Their longer tongue allows them to collect pollen from many varieties of plants, and they are fast workers. Because they can extract pollen from many types of flowers, they are better able to cross-pollinate (to transfer pollen from one plant to the next).
Honey bees have one advantage over bumble bees – they can communicate with one another. They let each other know where a good supply of pollen is stashed through a dance! The honey bees then rush off to that area before the pollen has been extracted from the area where they started. Because of their hastiness to keep moving on to “greener pastures”, they leave behind a lot of pollen.
Bumble bees are more patient and completely draw out all the pollen before moving on, thus being more thorough pollinators.
So, What Is Pollination?
Pollination is “the transfer of pollen to a stigma, ovule, flower, or plant to allow fertilization. The flowers depend on bees for pollination.” Source: Oxford Languages. This transfer of pollen is done by the bee landing on one flower, collecting pollen on its body, and then flying to another and rubbing that pollen onto the next plant.
In order for a plant to create more flowers or fruit, it has to be pollinated which creates the juicy ovaries that will produce a flower or fruit. This process is called “set fruit”.
Although some flowers and crops can reproduce on their own, the vast majority need to be pollinated through bees and/or butterflies. You can read more about butterflies in my previous post, What Flowers Attract Hummingbirds and Butterflies. So as you can imagine, without our pollinators we would be in dire straits! No more flowers, fruits, vegetables, etc.…
Mutualistic Population – The What???
Bees and flowers have a mutually beneficial relationship. The bees benefit from the flower by extracting pollen and nectar which nourishes them which they share with their fellow bees. The flowers benefit from the bee because it transfers pollen to other plants thus helping them produce more flowers.
There are three forms of symbiotic relationships: mutualism, commensalism, and parasitism. However, I am only interested in the mutualistic benefits of bees and flowers in this blog.
Save the Bees!!!
As Greenpeace has noted: “…honey bees, both wild and domestic, perform about 80 percent of all pollination worldwide. A single bee colony can pollinate 300 million flowers each day.” According to Political Insider, 40% of US honey-bee colonies died off last year.
As you can surmise, this is gravely affecting the pollination of flowers and crops in the US.
There are many reasons why the bee population is diminishing. Here are just a few.
loss of habitat
decreasing crop diversity (refer to my post on How To Learn From Plants for an explanation of this)
By far the most detrimental impact on the bee population in the United States is pesticide use. More than 150 different residual pesticides were found in bee pollen according to Eric Mussen, a University of California agriculturalist.
The practice of converting farms and forests into mono-culture farms which are then sprinkled with pesticides is another leading cause of the shrinking of wild bee habitats.
Ways to Save Our Bees
ban the 7 most dangerous pesticides
preserve bees’ natural habitat
restore ecological agriculture (refer to How To Learn From Plants)
These would be massive undertakings directed by our government. However, you can do your part to save the bees. Read on.
Everyday People To The Rescue!
You can do your small part to help save our pollinators by planting numerous flowers in your garden. Plant flowers that are open and less layered so the bees can reach the nectar and pollen. Since some bees emerge from hibernation in February, be sure to plant flowers that bloom at that time of year (snowdrops, pussy willow, crocus). Vary your flowers so blooming time lasts through spring, summer, and fall. If you live in the south, plant flowers year round.
Bees are attracted to color. Here are a variety of flowers you may want to plant to attract bees.
lavender star flower (blue borage) bee balm
marjoram abelia chives
lilac foxgloves lupine
marigold pansy liatris
Fear Not The Sting
Many people are reluctant to draw bees to their garden because of their sting. I get it, it hurts to be stung and could be life threatening if you are allergic to the venom. If you are not allergic to the sting, then fear not. Honeybees only sting once before dying. Bumble bees can sting multiple times but will not sting you if you do not provoke or fuss with them. So if you take sensible precautions and are not allergic to bee stings, you can help reverse decades of habitat loss.
One alternative to planting flowers in your back or front yard or both, is planting wildflowers in a park or in the back acreage of a friend’s home who owns plenty of land.
Either way, please help save our bees. You will not only be saving them, you will also be saving us!
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I hope you enjoyed this post. Please leave a comment below and let me know how you make out creating a bee garden.
Ulimwengu wetu hauwezi kufanya kazi bila nyuki. Kulingana na Idara ya Kilimo ya Marekani, nyuki na vipepeo huchanganya asilimia 75 ya mimea ya maua na asilimia 35 ya mazao ya chakula duniani. Chapisho hili litazingatia nyuki wasaidizi, ikiwa ni pamoja na nyuki bumble na nyuki asali. "Nitaelezea tofauti kati ya nyuki; nini ni kupandikiza na umuhimu wake; mahusiano ya pamoja kati ya nyuki na maua; ni aina gani za maua zinazowavutia wapapuaji; na hatimaye jinsi na kwa nini idadi ya nyuki imekuwa dhaifu sana na nini kinachoweza kufanywa ili kuzuia wapapuaji hawa kutoka kutoweka. """ Baadhi ya viungo katika chapisho hili ni viungo vya washirika ambavyo mimi hupokea fidia ndogo kutoka kwa uuzaji wa vitu fulani. Kama mshirika wa Amazon, mimi kupata kutoka ununuzi wa kufuzu. Nyuki wa asali au nyuki wa bumble? Kuna Tofauti Gani? Kuna karibu spishi 20,000 za nyuki duniani kote. Hata hivyo, nyuki wa asali na nyuki wa aina ya bumblebee ndio wanaoishi kwa ukawaida zaidi. Wao hutafuta maua kwa bidii, tofauti na ndege wanaoitwa hummingbirds ambao hutembea-tembea wakitafuta nectar. Nyuki wa asali ni wadogo na mwembamba kuliko nyuki wa bumble na wanaweza kuchanganyikiwa na nyuki. Pia wana tofauti ya wazi kati ya kichwa na mwili pamoja na seti mbili za mabawa; moja kubwa iliyowekwa mbele na moja ndogo iliyowekwa nyuma. Nyuki-bubble ni wakubwa zaidi, wenye uzito zaidi, wenye umbo la mviringo na wenye manyoya mengi. Miili yao pia iko katika kundi moja au sehemu moja, si imegawanywa kama nyuki wa asali. Nyuki wa asali ni wenye kushirikiana zaidi. Wao hupenda kuishi pamoja katika makundi ya nyuki pamoja na makumi ya maelfu ya nyuki wengine. Nyuki wa asali wanaweza kupatikana katika miti iliyo tupu au katika mazingira yaliyohifadhiwa yanayoendeshwa na mfugaji wa nyuki. Hutoa asali nyingi na wanaweza kuishi majira ya baridi kali. Malkia wao anaweza kuishi hadi miaka minne. Nyuki-bubel ni watu wasio na urafiki sana. Wao huishi katika viota ambavyo kwa kawaida hupatikana vimechimbwa ardhini. Wao pia hutokeza asali lakini kwa ajili ya matumizi yao wenyewe tu. Nyuki malkia ndiye pekee atakayedumu katika majira ya baridi kali kwa kulala usingizi wa majira ya baridi kali chini ya ardhi. Nyuki ni pollinators bora kutokana na ukubwa wao mkubwa ambayo inawawezesha kubeba chavua zaidi. Ulimi wao mrefu huwaruhusu kukusanya chavua kutoka kwa aina nyingi za mimea, nao hufanya kazi haraka. Kwa kuwa wanaweza kupata chavua kutoka kwa aina nyingi za maua, wanaweza kuhamisha chavua kutoka kwa mmea mmoja hadi mwingine. Nyuki wa asali wana faida moja kuliko nyuki wa bumble - wanaweza kuwasiliana na kila mmoja. Wao hufahamana mahali ambapo kiasi kikubwa cha chavua kimefichwa kupitia dansi! Nyuki hao huelekea kwenye eneo hilo kabla ya chavua ya maua kuondolewa. Kwa sababu ya haraka yao ya kuendelea kuhamia "mashamba ya kijani kibichi", wao huacha chavua nyingi. Nyuki-mwitu ni wenye subira zaidi na huondoa kabisa chavua zote kabla ya kuendelea, hivyo wakifanya kazi ya kuchausha kwa uangalifu zaidi. Kwa hiyo, Kupandikiza Ni Nini? Uchafuzi ni <unk>uhamisho wa chavua kwa stigma, ovule, maua, au mmea ili kuruhusu mbolea. Maua hayo hutegemea nyuki ili kuwapa chavua. <unk> Chanzo: Oxford Languages. Mchuzi huo huanguka kwenye ua moja, hukusanya chavua kwenye mwili wake, kisha huruka hadi kwenye jani lingine na kutikisa chavua hiyo kwenye mmea mwingine. Ili mmea uweze kuzaa maua au matunda mengi, lazima uende kwa mchuzi, ambao huunda ovari zenye ladha ambayo itazaa maua au matunda. Utaratibu huu huitwa "matunda yaliyowekwa". Ingawa maua na mazao fulani yanaweza kuzaliana yenyewe, mengi yanahitaji kupakwa chavua kupitia nyuki na au vipepeo. Unaweza kusoma zaidi kuhusu vipepeo katika chapisho langu la awali, Ni maua gani yanawavutia ndege wa hummingbird na vipepeo. Kwa hiyo kama unavyoweza kuwazia, bila wapunga wetu tungekuwa katika hali mbaya sana! Hakuna maua zaidi, matunda, mboga, nk.... Mutualistic Idadi ya Watu <unk> Nini??? Nyuki na maua wana uhusiano wenye manufaa kwa wote wawili. Nyuki hufaidika kutokana na maua kwa kutoa chavua na nectar ambayo huwapa chakula ambacho wanashirikiana na nyuki wenzao. Maua hunufaika kutokana na nyuki kwa sababu yeye huhamisha chavua kwa mimea mingine na hivyo kuwasaidia kutokeza maua zaidi. Kuna aina tatu za mahusiano ya ushirikiano: ushirikiano, ushirikiano, na uchochezi. Hata hivyo, mimi ni tu nia ya faida ya pamoja ya nyuki na maua katika blogu hii. Weka Wanyama Mnyama!!! "Kama Greenpeace ilivyoeleza, ""Nyuki wa asali, wa mwituni na wa nyumbani, hufanya karibu asilimia 80 ya uchafuzi wote duniani kote.""" Koloni moja ya nyuki inaweza kuchausha maua milioni 300 kwa siku, na kwa mujibu wa Political Insider, asilimia 40 ya makoloni ya nyuki nchini Marekani yalipotea mwaka jana. Kama unavyoweza kufikiria, hii inaathiri sana uchafuzi wa maua na mazao nchini Marekani. Kuna sababu nyingi kwa nini idadi ya nyuki inazidi kupungua. Hapa kuna chache tu. "Kupungua kwa idadi ya viumbe katika mazingira ya asili, kupunguza utofauti wa mazao (tazama chapisho langu juu ya ""Jinsi ya Kujifunza kutoka kwa Mimea"" kwa maelezo ya hili) Kwa mbali athari mbaya zaidi kwa idadi ya nyuki nchini Marekani ni matumizi ya dawa za kuua wadudu." Zaidi ya dawa 150 za kuua wadudu zimepatikana katika chavua ya nyuki, kulingana na Eric Mussen, mtaalamu wa kilimo wa Chuo Kikuu cha California. Utafiti wa kugeuza mashamba na misitu kuwa mashamba ya kilimo kimoja ambayo kisha hutiwa dawa za kuua wadudu ni sababu nyingine kuu ya kupungua kwa makazi ya nyuki wa mwituni. "Kupinga dawa za kuua wadudu 7 hatari zaidi, kuhifadhi mazingira ya asili ya nyuki, kurudisha kilimo cha ikolojia (tazama ""Jinsi ya Kujifunza kutoka kwa Mimea"")" Hata hivyo, unaweza kufanya sehemu yako ili kuwaokoa nyuki. Soma zaidi. Watu wa Kila Siku Kwa Uokoaji! Unaweza kufanya sehemu yako ndogo kusaidia kuokoa pollinators zetu kwa kupanda maua mengi katika bustani yako. Mimea ya maua ambayo ni wazi na chini ya tabaka hivyo nyuki wanaweza kufikia nectar na chavua. Kwa kuwa nyuki fulani hutoka kwenye usingizi wa majira ya baridi kali mwezi wa Februari, hakikisha kwamba unapanda maua ambayo huchanua wakati huo wa mwaka (nyuki, mti wa mti wa mti wa mti wa mti wa mti wa mti wa mti wa mti wa mti). Tofautiana maua yako ili wakati wa maua uwe wa majira ya kuchipua, majira ya kiangazi, na vuli. Ikiwa unaishi kusini, panda maua mwaka mzima. Nyuki huvutiwa na rangi. Hapa kuna aina mbalimbali za maua ambayo huenda ukataka kupanda ili kuvutia nyuki. Lavender star flower (blue borage) bee balm marjoram abelia chives lilac foxglove lupine marigold pansy liatris fear not the sting watu wengi wanakataa kuvutia nyuki katika bustani yao kwa sababu ya kuumwa kwao. Inaumiza kuumwa na inaweza kuhatarisha maisha yako ikiwa una mzio wa sumu. Ikiwa wewe si mzio wa kuumwa, basi usiogope. Nyuki wa asali huuma mara moja tu kabla ya kufa. Nyuki wanaweza kukuuma mara nyingi lakini hawatakuuma ikiwa huwasumbui au kuwakasirisha. Kwa hiyo, ikiwa unachukua tahadhari nzuri na huna mzio wa kuumwa na nyuki, unaweza kusaidia kuzuia miaka mingi ya kupoteza makao. Njia nyingine ya kupanda maua katika bustani yako ya nyuma au ya mbele, au zote mbili, ni kupanda maua ya mwituni katika bustani au katika shamba la nyuma la nyumba ya rafiki ambaye anamiliki ardhi nyingi. Kwa vyovyote vile, tafadhali nisaidie kuokoa nyuki zetu. Hutawaokoa wao tu, bali pia utatuokoa sisi! Kama mshirika wa Amazon, mimi kupata kutoka ununuzi wa kufuzu. Natumaini ulifurahia chapisho hili. Tafadhali acha maoni hapa chini na nijulishe jinsi unavyofanya kujenga bustani ya nyuki.