by Liz Janson, FAUSA
Honey bees are fascinating creatures! They are social insects, communicating through complex methods of chemicals (pheromones, involved in almost all aspects of their lives), waggle dances and using touch, vibration and their sense of smell in the dark hive. Waggle dances are performed by foraging bees who return to the hive to tell their sisters exactly where to go to find good sources of nectar. Scout bees dance on the surface of a swarm to communicate where to go to establish the new nest.
There are three types of honey bees in a colony: the males (drones), and two castes of females (the queen and the workers). Foraging workers collect the pollen for the protein needs of developing brood (larvae) and nectar (for carbohydrates). Worker bees inside the colony mix nectar with enzymes and dehydrate the nectar into honey, capping it with a thin layer of wax to preserve this food for when they need it during periods of dearth. There is one queen per colony, and on average she lives 2-3 years. Summer worker bees live 4-5 weeks; winter worker bees (fat-bodied bees), 5-7 months; drones, 55 days. The queen can lay 1500-2000 eggs a day, slows down in the autumn and takes a break around mid-winter for about a month, depending on location.
At least 75% of all flowering plants need some kind of help with pollinating the estimated one third of the food we eat. Honey bees alone are responsible for billions of dollars of US agricultural productivity, and they are the most efficient and effective of the insect pollinators.
Honey bees are not native to North America. They were introduced from Europe in the 17th century to provide beeswax for a clean source of light, candles. Honey bee colonies spread west with the expansion of the settlers, and became important for the pollination of fruit-bearing trees and other plants. There are over 3,600 species of bees in North America and 20,000 species worldwide. Native bees often specialize in pollinating one plant, but honey bees are generalists and forage on many different plants. Honey bees collect nectar from over two million flowers to produce 16 ounces of honey!
Honey bees face many challenges: poor nutrition, pathogens, pesticides, parasites. Here are a few ways you can help increase the health of honey bees in your area, and the chances of their survival.
- Eliminate pesticides and herbicides that are harmful to honey bees and other pollinators. Blossoms treated with chemicals are often poisonous to pollinators; some neonicotinoids and other pesticides are systemic and leach into all parts of the plants, the earth around them and the water table. Use mulch instead to inhibit unwanted growth.
Learn to love weeds! Weeds are only plants that may not be growing where we want them to. The “No Mow May” initiative started in the UK and is gradually spreading across North America, most recently as “Grow, Don’t Mow!”. These initiatives ask people to leave their lawnmowers in garages and sheds and return green spaces to wild flowers and grasses, which in turn provide nectar and pollen for our pollinators. For more information see the “No Mow May” in the UK and in North America, a recent New York Times article, as well as in last month’s Environment Team article.- Get active and advocate for honey bees and other pollinators’ health. There are many worldwide and local organizations that support pollinators’ health and habitat. Individuals can make a difference! In my home town of Boulder, Colorado, a group of local beekeepers, residents, the University of Colorado, the City of Boulder and gardeners have joined forces to create a pollinator corridor through the middle of the city, Corredor de las Plantas.
- Create habitat areas for a variety of pollinators. Convert a corner of your yard or a large pot to a habitat area, planting or seeding plants that bloom starting in early spring to autumn. Consult local websites or experts (including FAWCO and FAUSA Master Gardeners!) for what forage will grow best in your area and climate.
- Support local farmers (and beekeepers!) by buying food and honey grown in your area. This includes meat as well as fruits and vegetables!
Photos: Tharien van Eck
