Breakfast with Bees

Honey bee pollination gives us much of our fruit, nuts, and vegetables.  But look what would happen if there were no bees in the world. Dry toast for breakfast! Over 75% of the world’s most important food crops need pollinators. Honey bee numbers are dropping fast. It’s a bee crisis!

If bees are toast, so are we…

… A world without bees would soon be a world without humans. All over the world honey bees are dying: it’s called colony collapse disorder. Humans are to blame: through heavy use of pesticides, spreading viruses,  poor bee diet (monocultures), destroying habitats, and climate change. All of these have most likely stressed and weakened bees.

Latest News

Pesticide Vs Pollinator: The Case Against Neonicotinoids

Evidence that neonic pesticides should be banned.

EPA evidence

Honey bee losses:

• Feral (wild) honey bees now extinct in United States and New Zealand.
• United States and Canada, a 30% annual loss from hives.
• England, a 50% loss in recent years.
• Europe, a 25% loss over past 25 years.

Things You Can Do To Help Bees: 

• Plant trees, bushes, flowers. Bees love lavender, heather, thyme, Californian lilac.
• Leave some of your lawn to grow wild- it provides shelter and attracts helpful bugs.
• Avoid using chemicals on plants and near water. Put out drinking water for bees in shallow containers.
• Look after other pollinators: bumblebees, native bees, butterflies.
• Make a nest for native bees (small, non-stinging!). Download pdf plan .
• Eat local honey.

More ideas here.

Support Beekeeping in Poor Communities

1. Bees For Development is a charity which works to combat poverty through beekeeping. They promote beekeeping skills in  poor communities — relieving poverty and boosting the environment at the same time. Their patron is the singer Sting, of course. (Photo: Paolo Roversi). Visit their excellent website:Bees For Development.

2. Tear Fund will help a poor family start a beekeeping business.

3. Oxfam: Plan B helps struggling women in Ethiopia take up beekeeping, so they can earn a living and break free from poverty.

Pesticide Effects on Bees (from UN Bee Report):

…pesticides can weaken the honey bee’s immune system and hamper bees’ ability to fight infection…Systemic insecticides which migrate all the way to the flowers, can potentially cause toxic chronic exposure to non-target pollinators… such chemicals can cause losses of sense of direction, impair memory and brain metabolism, and cause mortality.

Links:

Excellent article on Bees and Pesticides

Full list of bee friendly plants

Superb books on the bee crisis: A World Without Bees by Alison Benjamin; Fruitless Fall by Rowan Jacobsen.

Bee rap/dance from Help the Honey Bee campaign