Most of us try to avoid bees as much as possible unless you’re in the bee relocation and bee removal business like The Beehive. But did you know that bees are not just the livelihood of beekeepers, but they’re keeping all of us alive on this planet: humans, animals, flowers, plants and crops?

To many of us, bees can be scary and a pest because no one likes to be stung. When we see one, we run away or swat at it. Some people go in complete panic mode when they encounter a bee. But, even if you hate bees, you need them. They’re responsible for much of the food on our plates. Without bees, we would not have very much to eat.

They perform a task that’s vital to the survival of agriculture: pollination. Bees are responsible for pollinating about one-sixth of the flowering plant species worldwide and approximately 400 different agricultural types of plant, which is one third of our global food supply.

Pollination and Why We Need it

Pollination is needed for plants to reproduce, and many plants depend on bees as pollinators. When a bee collects nectar and pollen from the flower of a plant, some pollen from the stamens — the male reproductive organ of the flower — sticks to the hairs of her body. When she visits the next flower, some of this pollen is rubbed off onto the stigma, or tip of the pistil — the female reproductive organ of the flower. When this happens, fertilization is possible, and a plant’s seed, nut or fruit is then formed.

Pollination is not just important for the food we eat directly, but also for crops — such as field beans and clover — that livestock eats. We in turn depend on livestock for meat. It helps to feed many other animals and birds in the food chain and maintains the genetic diversity of the flowering plants.

Some of the Foods that Depend on Bees

Many of the foods that we regularly eat rely on bees, including: almonds, apples, asparagus, beans, beets, blackberries, blueberries, brussels sprouts, cabbage, cantaloupe, cauliflower, celery, cherries, cranberries, cucumber, eggplant, flax, garlic, grapes, kale, lettuce, mustard, onions, parsley, peaches, pears, plums, pumpkins, radishes, raspberries, squash, strawberries, sweet potatoes, turnip and watermelon. Flowers that are visited more often by bees produce larger and more uniform fruit than those visited less often.

Bees Benefit the Environment and More

Not only are bees important to food production, but also to flowers we have in our yards. Bees contribute to the countryside, to gardens and general enrichment of landscapes. Bees are therefore beneficial to the environment in general.

Bees, next to being helpful in sustaining our food production, also are producing amazing products that come from the beehive such as honey and beeswax. We are all aware of the benefits of honey. Beeswax is used to make candles that are totally natural and have their own sweet smell.

What if All the Bees would Die

If bees did not exist, neither would humans. The U.S. government has stated that bees are now dying at an economically unsustainable rate. Indeed, in the U. S. alone, bees contribute $15 billion in crop value. Without them, agriculture as we know it would collapse.

Pesticides are the main culprit of the disappearance of bees. Unfortunately, we’re destroying habitats in which bees traditionally get their food. And tragically, by killing bees, we’re hurting ourselves. Our survival depends on the health of the planet and its species.

What You Can Do to Save the Bees

Simply put, we can plant flowers in our yards and not contaminate them with pesticides. If we find a beehive or suspect there are too many bees, call The Beehive for live bee relocation at 602-600-5382.

The Beehive has 30 years of experience in live bee removal. If at all possible, we’ll find them a new home where their colony can continue to thrive. The bees will be able to do the work they’re meant to do: pollinating flowers and plants — as well as producing wholesome and healthy honey.

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Sources used for this blog:

https://www.onegreenplanet.org/animalsandnature/why-bees-are-important-to-our-planet/

https://www.elitedaily.com/news/world/humans-need-bees-to-survive/755737

https://bees.techno-science.ca/english/bees/pollination/default.php

http://www.bbc.co.uk/guides/zg4dwmn

https://www.buzzaboutbees.net/10-Reasons-Why-Bees-Are-Important.html

http://world-of-honey.com/bee-products/