The Importance of Bees to Humans, the Environment, and Food Supplies

Often seen buzzing from flower to flower, bees are a common sight in yards and gardens around the world. These hard-working black and yellow insects pollinate thousands of plants each day and produce the sweet golden syrup we call honey. But do you know the challenges these important creatures are facing? If bees were to become extinct, our planet and the growing 7 billion global population would be in serious trouble.
Table of Contents

  • The Importance of Bees
  • Reasons Why Bees Are Important
  • Why Are Bees Disappearing?
  • What Would Happen If All The Bees Died?
  • How Can We Help Bees

4 Reasons Why Bees Are Important

Bees play an essential role in maintaining healthy ecosystems. They pollinate the food, trees, and flowers that provide food and habitats for humans and wildlife. Bees also contribute to human health and our economy.

Pollination

Nearly 90% of plant species rely on pollinators to reproduce. Pollination is the transfer of pollen grains from the male anther of a plant to the female stigma, enabling fertilization and the production of fruit and seeds. While wind, birds, bats, and other insects contribute to pollination, bees are the most important pollinators.

Honey bees spend most of their life collecting pollen that they feed to their offspring. In doing so, they carry pollen all over their bodies as they fly from flower to flower. On average, a bee visits 1,500 to 2,000 flowers a day, which significantly increases the chances of fertilization and seed production.

Food Security

Honey bees are essential for the growth of many food crops. One-third of all the food we eat depends on pollination. Bees pollinate over 1,000 crops globally, including 75% of the leading food crops. According to Forbes, pollinators (especially honey bees and native bees) contribute more than $250 billion to the global economy and $25 billion to the US economy. Bees are responsible for fruits, vegetables, nuts, coffee, oils, and spices.

Environment & Biodiversity

Bees also provide food and habitats for wildlife. They pollinate wild and native plants, which provide oxygen to Earth’s organisms. Plant growth also prevents soil erosion and restarts the pollination cycle. Bees keep our planet biologically balanced and diverse. 
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Health Products

Honey bees also produce honey. The sweet golden liquid is a valuable product not only for consumption but also for medicinal purposes. People use honey when treating various conditions, including tuberculosis, fatigue, dizziness, hepatitis, ulcers, etc. Beeswax is another important product used in waterproofing, fuel, and skincare products. 

Why Are Bees Disappearing?

In recent years, bee colonies and populations have decreased by the billions as they face many threats, including habitat loss, toxic pesticides, and invasive species. According to Bee Informed Organization’s annual survey, beekeepers across the United States lost 45.5% of their managed honey bee colonies from April 2020 to April 2021. If these threats aren’t brought under control, we could be looking at a future without bees.

  • Habitat Loss

    An increase in urban development and poor farming practices has destroyed many areas that bees use to nest and the plants that bees use to forage on. Several bee species nest in trees, so as more trees are destroyed, so are the homes these bees live in.

  • Pesticides

    One of the main threats to bees is the use of toxic pesticides. While pesticides are designed to kill pests, improper use and application can negatively affect other insects. As a pest control company, we utilize an integrated pest management (IPM) approach that effectively solves pest problems while minimizing the risk to people and the environment. For example, when treating a customer’s yard for mosquitoes, our technicians avoid spraying any flowers, fruit-bearing trees and bushes, vegetable/fruit gardens, and herb gardens.

  • Climate Change

    Climate change and extreme weather are other contributing factors to the decline of bees. Some bees can only survive in a narrow temperature range. As temperatures get warmer and cooler throughout the year, population spaces reduce, and winter losses increase. 

  • Invasive Species, Parasites, & Diseases

    Invasive predators and parasites are another major threat to bees. The Asian hornet in Europe eats honey bees and poses a considerable threat. The hornet preys on honey bees and is capable of killing an entire hive. The Varroa mite is a parasitic mite that latches onto honey bees and passes a virus that slowly kills the bee.

What Would Happen If All The Bees Died?

If these threats aren’t controlled and bee populations continue to decline until there are no more bees, there would be a major ripple effect throughout ecosystems. We would lose all the plants that bees pollinate, all the animals that eat those plants, and so on up the food chain. A world without bees will struggle to sustain the global human population of 7 billion. Grocery stores would have half the amount of nutrient-rich foods like fruits, vegetables, and nuts.

How Can We Help Bees

Luckily, it is not too late to help #savethebees from extinction. There are several simple things you can do to help protect these important creatures – most of which can be done from the comfort of your own backyard. 

  • Plant a Bee Garden

    One of the easiest ways to help out bees is by planting bee-friendly flowers rich in pollen and nectar. You don’t need a ton of space to grow a bee garden. Flower pots, planters, window boxes, flower beds, and gardens are all options for establishing a bee garden. Some of the best flowers to plant for bees would include bee balm, wild white indigo, purple coneflower, foxglove, red clover, and birdsfoot trefoil.

  • Provide Shelter for Bees

    Bees need a place to nest and hibernate. Except for honeybees, most bees live in solitude inside trees or underground. “Bee condos” allow solitary bee species to nest and reside. They are easy to make or purchase.

  • Provide Trees for Bees

    Trees provide bees with thousands of blossoms to feed on. They are not only a great source of food for bees, but trees also provide shelter for bees. Plant a tree and care for the trees in your yard.

  • Create a Bee Bath

    Bees need a water break after long hours of foraging and collecting nectar. Bee baths are super simple to create. Fill a shallow bowl with clean water and arrange pebbles inside that break the water’s surface. Bees will land on the stones and quench their thirst.

  • Stop Using Pesticides

    Synthetic pesticides are a major threat to bees, so stop using them in your own garden. Instead, use organic products to keep pests away or rely on an eco-friendly pest control company like Advanced Wildlife and Pest Control which uses green pest control and integrated pest management approaches that efficiently and safely eliminate nuisance pests.

  • Support Local Beekeepers

    Last but not least, support the local beekeepers in your area. They work hard to nurture their bees! Show your appreciation by buying locally-made honey or beeswax products. Not only is local delicious, but it is also made from local flora, which may help with seasonal allergies.

Summary

Bees have significant environmental, medicinal, economic, and cultural importance as pollinators and producers of honey. Without the help of these perfect pollinators, humans would lose a third of the leading food crops and nutrient-rich foods pollinated by bees, including apples, blueberries, cashews, etc. Bees also help control the growth and quality of vegetation, which impacts wildlife, ecosystems, and humans.

Luckily, it is not too late to help #savethebees from extinction. I challenge you to accomplish one of the super simple tasks mentioned above to help protect our bees. How hard is planting a few flowers or buying some locally made honey? Let’s make a difference!