Did you know that Bees are one of the main keys to the survival of humanity? Of the pollinating insects, bees play the biggest role in crop pollination, without which fruits, certain vegetables and fodder crops grown for humans and animals would not be produced, thus endangering the worlds food supply.
Without a doubt, we owe a significant portion of our food to bees, as 90% of our food plants and wild plants are grown and reproduced by pollinating bees throughout the year.
Why Are Honey Bees Dying Out?
Since the late 1800s human activities have destroyed over 90% of the natural habitat of Honey Bees, the species that are reared to provide the honey and beeswax used to make many products, such as cosmetics, soaps, food packaging and pharmaceuticals. In the United States, commercial honey bee colonies declined by around 30% between 2006 and 2010, and the number of managed hives per beekeeper declined by around 10% during the same period. Some of the main causes of bee die-off include:
- Varroa Mites
The mites are tiny blood-sucking parasites that suck the blood out of adult bees, causing the bees to slowly lose their wings and become paralyzed. - Diseases
Various viruses, bacteria, and parasites have been reported to kill high numbers of bee populations. - Loss of Flowers
There are many factors that are responsible for the loss of flowers, among which the most important is the activities of humans.
What If All Bees Died Out?
Well, it’s a thought that has crossed many people’s minds. All flowering plants, which make up almost 90% of the plant kingdom, rely on pollination by insects such as bees to produce fruits that human beings and other animals depend on to survive. Bees are responsible for the production of one-third of our food supply and they’re dying out because the wildflowers they depend on have been destroyed by the activities of humans.
If bees died out, our food supply would decrease dramatically, which would have a negative effect on the human population. A few countries have taken steps to protect bees, but most do not.
How Can Humans Help Bees?
With the decline in the population of honey bees, humans have a chance to step in and become involved in the process of pollination. Many people are involved in the growing and harvesting of flowers for use in products, such as incense, perfumes, soaps and cosmetics, which rely heavily on the bee pollination process.
There are two ways to help the honey bees – by growing flowers that are popular with bees. If you want to help honey bees, you can try growing flowers that are popular with them, such as marigolds, zinnias, sunflowers and calendulas. You can also try to encourage other people to grow flowers that are not popular with bees, as this will increase the number of flowers available to bees.
Conclusion
Honey bees are a critical part of the ecosystem because they contribute to the growth of flowers that are an essential part of our food supply. Humans play a big role in helping these bees survive by growing flowers that are popular with them, and by helping to protect the habitat of wild flowers. Plants, including flowers, need pollinators such as honey bees to survive. If bees died out, our food supply would decrease dramatically, which would have a negative effect on the human population.