Bee aware of ‘most powerful insect’
CONSERVATION: Our very survival depends on the humble bee, writes Keren Cook, ahead of World Bee Day
As the global conversation about the effects of climate change has expanded, so too has our knowledge of the essential role of bees in our ecosystem.
Put simply, we cannot live without them: they pollinate 70 of the 100 or so crop species that feed 90 per cent of the world’s population.
According to a BBC report, honeybees are responsible for $30 billion a year in crops, and without them, we would have only half the amount of fruit and vegetables. That we have a World Bee Day — tomorrow — signals our dependence on bees.
Last year for the At Source podcast, I spoke to Phil Lester, professor in ecology and entomology at Victoria University of Wellington and author of Healthy Bee, Sick Bee, who describes the honeybee as “nature’s most powerful insect”. Lester says climate change is a major factor in declining bee populations overseas, and that pesticides, habitat disturbance/urbanisation and introduced species such as wasps are the main drivers of biodiversity and insect change around the world.
Our local bee population is diverse – as well as honey bees, Aotearoa New Zealand is home to four types of bumblebee and 28 types of native bee. Other pollinators include many flies, native butterflies and moths, and the flower longhorn beetle.
The good news is that organisations and agencies around the world are acknowledging the vulnerability of bees and other pollinators, and recognising the need to shore up their populations to protect food resources for countless other species, including humans.
Some of the important work is being done by the Natural Resources Conservation Service of the US Department of Agriculture, which is providing technical and financial assistance to help producers provide safe and diverse food sources for honeybees.
Conservation practices includes planting cover crops, wildflowers and native grasses, and improving management of grazing lands. To accelerate conservation efforts, NRCS is zeroing in on areas where more than
Put simply, we cannot live without bees: they pollinate 70 of the 100 or so crop species that feed 90 per cent of
the world’s population.
two-thirds of honeybee populations spend the summer months, to help them build the strength to survive winter. By its third year, this effort had enhanced about 35,000 acres of land for honeybees.
Even as large-scale efforts like this are under way, home gardeners can do plenty to care for the bees in our immediate environment:
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The NZ Environmental Protection Agency Te Mana Rauh¯ı Taiao offers specific advice on how to safely use garden insecticides and chemicals, some of which, such as neonicotonoid insecticides, can be especially harmful to pollinators. There are strict controls around their use, and users are advised to always follow the instructions, so it does its job but keeps bees and other pollinators safe.
Spray after sunset; spray in dry weather and not when it is windy (this keeps people safe too); and do not spray near budding or flowering plants where bees and other insects tend to forage. Before you spray, if you know of any beehives in your area, tell the owners so they can move or protect their hives – bees commonly forage within a fivekilometre radius and even beyond.
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Consider alternatives to insecticides and other chemicals. You could pull out weeds by hand or use boiling water to spot kill weeds in the garden or moss on pathways. Pests can be squashed, and nets can protect vegetable gardens from unwanted incursions.
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A strategic approach to mowing can make you a friend of bees. Mow less frequently and let more clover flowers and dandelions — bee food — grow.
If you cut smaller areas of lawn on a rotation basis, you leave more flowers as food and longer grass as shelter for pollinator insects. Some flowering weeds are valuable food sources for pollinators, so consider leaving some to grow or take care when spraying these.
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Pollinators need plenty of clean, fresh water. If you don’t have a pond or water feature you can keep topped up – and avoid spraying anywhere near – simply put out a waterfilled dish or saucepan, and put some twigs or pebbles in for bees and insects to land on while they drink. Keep it out of the sun so the water stays cool.
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Nesting is very important. Don’t disturb insect nests, with the exception of wasps, in which case the nest should be safely exterminated to protect people, bird life and other insects. It is a good idea to keep some banks of earth or areas of bare soil in your garden, for bees to nest in.
If you have sheltered space in your backyard, you could build a bee hotel for nesting by filling pots with sticks or bamboo.