Discover our recent challenges and successes and how you can help. A world without bees, is a world without food. Pesticides are one of the key threats to bees, and so one way to help bees is to stop using them in your own garden. We keep receiving news about the decline of our precious bee population. Why are bees important? Invasive species are also adding to the disappearance of bees, due to the appearance of new parasites and diseases. Vegetables such as broccoli, asparagus and cucumber rely on the pollination of bees, as do apricots, strawberries, apples, tomatoes and almonds. More than 80% of flowering plants across the globe require a pollinator in order to reproduce. Where trees and woods are essential to filter our air, bees are vital to both pollinate the food we need to survive and pollinate many of the trees and flowers that provide habitats for wildlife. When an ecosystem is experiencing problems due to pollution of other problems, a … If these threats aren’t brought under control, we could be looking at a future without bees. History and Names, What Does It Mean When a Cat Shows Up at My Door, Different Types Of Honey Bees - Species & Characteristics, Fish Chasing Each Other - All Possible Reasons, What is a Griffon Vulture? It’s fascinating to think about how important a … Confused? Many national or imported fruits and vegetables have been pollinated by bees. For more, we suggest taking a look at our article where we list the different types of honey bee species. Bees are one of the most important pollinators because they’re so naturally good at it! Importance of bees in the ecosystem. Not only do bees help us grow more and varied crops, but they also have a delicious sweet treat that humans (and bears) love to eat. We are dependent on bees to fertilise many of our crops. You can create your own shelter or buy a ready-made bee hotel – just hang it up in a sunny sheltered spot in your garden and watch bees filling the tubes during the spring and summer months. When some pesticides are sprayed onto plants, bees ingest them, damaging their nervous system. Woodland Trust (Enterprises) Limited, registered in England (No. This means that we rely on bees to help plants reproduce. Our seedball mix contains the seeds of nine hardy flowers - brilliant for bees! Pollination is crucial because many of our vegetables, fruits and the crops that feed our livestock rely on it to be fertilised, so without it, we could go hungry. Protecting bees is extremely important because not only are they vital for our survival but also the dynamic ecosystem that they are part of. Vegetables such as broccoli, asparagus and cucumber rely on the pollination of bees, as do apricots, strawberries, apples, tomatoes and almonds. Registered in England No. We need bees to fertilise many of our crops. The fact of the matter is, the importance of bees in the ecosystem goes far beyond what many imagine. Some bees are nocturnal and pollinate plants which only bloom during the nighttime. In addition, bees also produce honey, propolis, royal jelly and many other beneficial products used for both food and pharmacology. This post covers why bees are crucial to the survival of the human race and what we can do to save them. So, what would happen if there were no bees? The Western honey bee is a domestic species used for the production of honey. It disrupts bee nesting behaviour and alters the normal seasonal timings, meaning flowers may bloom earlier or later than expected. Pollination and the commercial food industry are intrinsically intertwined. I’ll come back to this in a moment. And bees are important for many more reasons than just food. Honey Bees Play a Role In Our Health & Lifestyle In fact, thanks to bees, many species of plants are pollinated in forests, meadows and a multitude of ecosystems, resulting in a production of fruits that serve as food for many wild animals. A bee’s life cycle is incredible and because of this, more and … Simply scatter the seedballs in a location of your choice and watch them sprout! Along the way, they pick up pollen and deposit it on other plants. Bees also pollinate over 80% of the world’s wild flowers and, interestingly, whilst great attention is always given to the bee’s role as our main crop pollinator, we would do well to note that they play an equally important role as ‘keystone species’ in the planet’s eco-systems. In many occasions beekeepers move their beehives to crops far from their original environment. There is growing evidence of the importance of bees and their role in biodiversity, agriculture and for human existence. Registered office: Kempton Way, Grantham, Lincolnshire, NG31 6LL. Pollination is defined as the process of transferring the pollen from the anther- the ale part of the flower- to the stigma, the female part of the flower. This sickly sweet golden liquid is a valuable product not only for its saccharine taste, but also due to its medicinal properties and the fact it is so energy dense. A non-profit-making company limited by guarantee. The first include a loss of habitat, the degradation of ecosystems or a total destruction or substitution of forests and fields for crops. Many are learning how to make beehives and contribute as much as they can to help save bees, specifically those in critical danger of extinction, such as the Megachile cypricola or Bombus rubriventris. But do you know how important this creature is to our planet, and the threats it is facing? Bees are an important part of our world, they help to pollinate plants that create the food that we eat. Not only is climate change and human intervention having a negative effect on our world’s bee population, but many are choosing to ignore these important facts. VAT No. While to many they are simply the fuzzy flying insects we see darting among the flowers during the warmer months, bees are actually so much more than this, and have an important part to play in maintaining our planet. The Woodland Trust and Woodland Trust Nature Detectives logos are registered trademarks. Bees are in decline on a global scale as they face many threats, from habitat loss to the use of toxic pesticides. Bees are the world’s most important pollinator of food crops. According to the USDA, bees pollinate 75% of all the fruit, nuts and vegetables grown by American farmers. While there are other methods of pollination, including by the wind, birds, bats and other insects, wild bees are among the most important pollinators because they are capable of pollinating on a much bigger scale. Often seen buzzing from flower to flower, it’s as difficult to imagine a life without bees as it is to envisage one without trees. Their unique adaptation to local climates and vegetation makes them an indispensable part of every country’s ecosystem. You can help out a tired bee by mixing two tablespoons of white, granulated sugar with one tablespoon of water, placing it near the bee so it can help itself to this homemade energy drink. Some pests provide food for crucial pollinators, so leaving them to be controlled naturally is the best choice if you want to help save bees. It’s fascinating to think about how important … Without them, most plants could not reproduce and would die out. Effective pollination increases the amount of agricultural produce, improves their … It is estimated that one third of the food that we consume each day relies on pollination mainly by bees, but also by other insects, birds and bats. A bee’s life cycle is incredible and because of this, more and more people and wondering how we can help save bees. The most aesthetically pleasing action of bees is to pollinate flowers and … Bees are important for the overall health of the environment, our ecosystem, and our farms. Why else are bees important? If you want to learn more about the incredible bee species, we recommend taking a look at our article where we discuss how does a bee become a queen. This problem affects all pollinators. Keep in touch with the nature you love without having to leave the house. Bees (along with other pollinators) are important because they help make our food. For more, we recommend reading our article where we discuss how are pesticides killing bees. If you want to read similar articles to Why Bees Are Important - Main Reasons, we recommend you visit our Facts about the animal kingdom category. It has been estimated that it would cost farmers in the UK an incredible £1.8 billion per year to manually pollinate their crops, which just further emphasises the importance of bees. In addition, artificial hives are placed near fields to promote pollination. It is estimated that the average person eats about 1.3lbs of honey per year. Bees help us have healthy crops and a thriving ecosystem, which in turn helps us to live healthier, thriving lives of our own. Human activities have destroyed and fragmented native bee habitats, from killing bees in backyards, to … Another reason why bees are important is that of the top 100 food crops for humans; bees pollinate at least 70 of these essential diet staples. The bigger question is whether it would even be possible to achieve the same productivity as the... Other Benefits. Bees are crucial to the process of pollination. These pollinated crops contribute to one-third of the world’s food supply, according to Nature.com. Beeswax is used in a variety of ways, including for candles, in cosmetics, and in various polishes. Parasites and diseases are another big threat to bees. Bees are not disappearing for a single reason, their are a set of factors that are causing this rapid decline. Without bees, many animals would go without food, including humans! Apidologie, 40(3), 410-416. Why Bees are Important. Why Are Bees So Important to the Environment? Bees play an important role in relation to the scope of agricultural production. Whilst it is easy to presume it might be dead or dying, chances are it is actually exhausted and in need of a quick pick-me-up. Quite apart from the fact that pollination is important for food production, … Where trees and woods are essential to filter our air, bees are vital to both pollinate the food we need to survive and pollinate many of the trees and flowers that provide habitats for wildlife. The use of pesticides, some of which have already been banned in the European Union, affect both honey bees and wild bees. These developments are as much a threat to bees as they are to trees and woodland. Like most invertebrates, bees need shelter to nest and hibernate in. Why Are Bees Important? They pollinate crops that we rely on for food, like fruits, vegetables, and flowers. You may be asking, “But why are bees important to humans?” The answer is simple! There is no plan bee. The Woodland Trust is a charity registered in England and Wales (No. Their responsible for the wax in our polish and the honey on our morning toast. 1982873. Many of the threats to bees share parallels with the threats to trees and woodland, so saving bees goes hand-in-hand with saving trees. Humans depend on pollinators to help produce food crops. It has often been said that bees are responsible for one out of every three bites of food we eat. 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