When someone mentions bees, your immediate thought is likely to imagine the striped little honey bees buzzing around the garden, collecting nectar to make into that sweet syrup we all know and love. You might have heard that not all bees make honey, but this point often isn’t put into perspective.

There are 20,000 species of bees and only 11 make honey.  These species are from the genus Apis, and are the exception to the rule in the world of bees.

The vast majority are solitary bees; no hive, no wax, and certainly no honey. Instead, they build nests to lay their eggs and will die by the time winter rolls around. The eggs hatch into larvae, pupate into adults, and then emerge from the nest in spring or summer to repeat the process. Most of them are ground nesters, making their own burrows or living in holes built and abandoned by other creatures.

Sadly, these extremely important insects are in danger. Worldwide colony collapse is a serious problem, and if we don't do our part to protect the bees, our food supply is going to be greatly affected.

Let's learn why we need bees, and more importantly, what we can do as individuals to help save them!

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Why Are Bees Important?

You will likely see bees flying around the garden, crashing into flowers and then flying off to the next bloom covered in a blanket of pollen. Plants have co-evolved with bees and other pollinating insects such as butterflies, hummingbirds, beetles, and even bats in order to solve a problem they face: reproduction.

Flowers are the reproductive organs of a plant, and contain male and female parts. The pollen grains are male gametophytes, essentially the sperm of the plant. Tucked away under the bloom is an enlarged receptacle that contains the ovaries. Pollination occurs when pollen enters the ovaries, fertilizes the cell inside, and then the plant sheds its petals and grows this receptacle in size to become fruit. The fertilized cells become seeds to grow into new plants.

It’s a complex process. Some plants rely on wind to pollinate, such as grasses. In order to maximize on their chances to pollinate, these plants will produce a huge amount of pollen in the off chance that a grain or two will land on the entrance to the ovary of a nearby plant, much to the dismay of everyone who suffers allergies. Many other plants use an easier and more efficient method of enlisting pollinators to do the work. This symbiotic relationship is an example of co-evolution, where two organisms have evolved together and found a way to benefit one another.

The pollen that plants produce isn’t just reproductive material; it’s also rich in protein and nutrients, acting as a food source for hungry bees. Most plants also offer another incentive: nectar. The glands are often found deep within the folds of the petals, ensuring that the visiting pollinator gets well coated with pollen in order to access the sugary liquid.

Pollination is important not just for the plant, but for the entire ecosystem. The fruits that the plant produces are food for humans and other animals alike. Enjoy coffee, peppers, oranges, strawberries, tomatoes, or almonds? You can thank bees for making those foods possible.

Even for meat-eaters it’s important to understand that many of the crops that livestock feed on must be pollinated, such as alfalfa. It’s estimated that 75% of the world’s food crops rely on pollinators.

If I haven't convinced you yet of why we need bees, take a few moment to imagine what would happen if all the world's bees disappeared.  Watch this video where Jon Hoekstra of the World Wildlife Fund reveals what a world without bees would be like.

A World Without Bees | Courtesy of History Channel

Just a Few Benefits of Bees

Pollination is the most important service provided by bees, and even many beekeepers focus on moving hives into growing operations as their primary source of income; anything they make off the honey is just extra. Honey bees are the most commonly used insect in the world and are incredibly valuable for agriculture due to their ease of transportation and the sheer number of bees in the colony, but the products of the hive shouldn’t be dismissed.

We know honey to be delicious and it has been well documented as having been used to sweeten foods for thousands of years. Wax was also used to treat injuries such as burns and cuts, and is widely used in cosmetics for its moisture retaining properties.

Solitary bees, as mentioned before, don’t create these products. They also tend to have a much shorter lifespan and are only active for a portion of the year, whereas honey bees will be active all year except winter. However, solitary bees carry a few advantages.

The honey bee is not native to much of the world. It has its origins in Eurasia, but has been distributed to every continent except Antarctica. The co-evolution between bees and plants is sometimes specific in that only certain native bees can pollinate certain native plants, and in return the plants provide valuable nutrients that the bees need to live. Without one, the other would not exist.

What Can You Do to Help the Bees?

Becoming a beekeeper can be expensive. The cost of materials, protective equipment, and bees can run into the hundreds of dollars. It’s also not always a viable option in some regions with laws regulating beekeeping within city limits. No need to lose hope! There are still many ways you can benefit the bees in your backyard:

Plant bee-friendly flowers.

Did you know that bees can’t see red? That doesn’t mean they can’t find red flowers. They just don’t see them as easily. They are quickly drawn to yellow, purple, and blue petals, so opt for plants with bright flowers. Planting a variety of plants can attract other pollinators, not just bees, making your garden an oasis for butterflies, ladybugs, hummingbirds and more! 

Plants from the families Asteraceae and Lamiaceae are well loved by bees. These include plants like coneflowers, lavender, sunflower, bee balm, Shasta daisies, and so on. Learn more about starting a bee garden.

Don’t mow those dandelions!

Bees emerging in the spring are hungry, and often the first plants to flower are lawn weeds such as dandelions. Wait a few weeks for the bees to feast on the pollen and nectar offered by these weeds before mowing your lawn. If you’re worried about seeds spreading everywhere, aim to cut the lawn just before the flowers go to seed, or place out early blooming plants instead.

Don’t spray.

Chemicals are huge killers of bees. Pollinators aren’t accustomed to the toxins that plants produce, and are far more susceptible. Insects like aphids and leafhoppers draw nutrients directly from the plant, so plants will produce toxins to fight back. Since the plant wants to keep around its pollinators, toxins rarely occur in the pollen and nectar, making bees unused to chemical exposure.

When chemicals become the last resort to removing pests or weeds from your property, make sure to use the lowest toxicity possible, and make sure it is a pesticide that is meant for targeting the specific invader.

Be lazy!

The autumn clean-up of the garden is a dreaded task for some, so knowing that doing less is benefitting the environment is a great excuse. The piles of logs, leaves, and other debris are often habitats for hibernating insects that benefit the area. For those who really prefer a clean look, consider making some debris piles and hiding them behind trees or shrubs where they won’t be noticed.

Get a solitary bee house.

Mason bee houses are popular choices for those who want the backyard beekeeping experience without the hassle of honey bees. The Osmia genus, which encompasses all mason bees, is widespread across the northern hemisphere and are famous for their docility. These gentle bees are fantastic pollinators and are incredibly easy to care for. Their cocoons can be removed, washed, and kept in the fridge over winter but it’s worth noting that these are native bees, and they are able to withstand the environment without external help. 

Houses for other types of bees can be purchased or built, and make a perfect home for your backyard pollinators.

Closing Remarks

Whether your interest in bees is for honey, pollination, or simply a love for insects and sustaining the environment, there are a variety of ways you can help. Even offering space in your garden for bees to live and roam is often all it takes to boost the numbers of a native bee population.

These pollinators are hugely important, not just for our gardens, but for our food crops and our environments as a whole.

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