World Bee Day – We Must Buzz to the Bee’s Rescue!

Benevolent viewers, my name is Engeleis, and I am a vegan honey bee. World Bee Day is celebrated each year on May 20. The caring nation of Slovenia, ever concerned with our well-being and preservation, launched The World Bee Day initiative in 2014.

It is estimated that we bees influence one out of every three bites of food humans consume, so we are vital for human food security. Common fruit crops such as almonds, apples, blueberries, pumpkins, and tomatoes, as well as countless vegetables, nuts, oilseeds and spices, rely on us to carry the pollen that gives them life. In order to produce optimal quality, certain fruits even require us to carry out multiple trips in order to deliver sufficient grains of pollen. For example, apples may require four to five hauls and strawberries … no less than 21 deliveries! All will be well though - we the busy bees are diligent workers!

For decades, the global population of bees has been experiencing an alarming decline. More than 700 of the 4,000 North American native bee species face extinction. The primary causes of our population drop are habitat loss, pesticides, herbicides, and climate change. Although the majority of us pollinators are small in size, we do our best to contribute to complex, interconnected ecosystems that allow all the world’s co-inhabitants to thrive. Unfortunately, we are in clear and present danger now.

Please “bee engaged” in saving us! It only takes a few easy steps, such as planting a pollinator-friendly garden with diverse flowers and trees rich in pollen and nectar. Single flowering plants such as: daisies, marigolds and sunflowers produce more nectar and offer easier access to pollen. We also enjoy landing on purple flowers such as: alliums, chives and lavender as we detect purple much more clearly than any other color. Consider participating in preservation campaigns associated with World Bee Day and supporting local environmental groups working to revive our populations.