Why Bees Are The VIPs

It’s World Bee Day, and to quote Edward O. Wilson, “…let us say a word on behalf of these little things that run the world.”

Most of us know what pollination is and how it works, but did you know insect pollination is critical for the success of many agricultural crops? Blueberries, almonds and watermelon are a few examples of food crops that rely completely upon honey bees to produce. But the importance of insect pollination goes beyond a well-stocked grocery store. About 90% of earth’s plant species rely on insect pollination to reproduce. And without plants, life as we know it would end. Talk about essential workers!

Insect pollinators include bees, wasps, butterflies, moths, beetles and flies. All pollinators are important, but bees are the VIPs. Why? We’ll fill you in on all the buzz.

Teach Us More About Bees, Please!

The famous European honey bee Apis mellifera isn’t the only kind of bee you’ll see among the plants. In fact, bees are just as diverse as the flowers they love. They come in a wide variety of colors, shapes, sizes and specialties — there around 4,400 different species found in North America alone.

Bees are generally “hairy” compared to other pollinators, allowing them to transfer pollen more efficiently than other insects. And many bees, especially honey bees and bumble bees, often practice something called flower constancy. This means a bee will remain faithful to one species of flower while foraging, bypassing other species even if they may provide greater nectar rewards. This guarantees that the pollen collected on their fuzzy little bodies is all from the same flower species, increasing the chance of successful pollination.

One of the smallest bees in North America, a fairy bee, and one of the largest, a carpenter bee. Credit: beesinyourbackyard.com

Bee Kind to Our VIPs

Habitat loss is the biggest threat pollinators face. As landscape architects, we play a unique role in development and potentially have the greatest impact on whether a place can sustain both the public and urban wildlife. To help mitigate the impact of land development, we utilize native plant species that directly benefit wildlife in our designs.

Next time you walk through the park, take a closer look at the different kinds of foraging bees that share our landscape. And don’t hesitate to stop and smell the flowers on account of the buzzing — bees will pay you no mind while they’re sipping on nectar.

To learn more about bees, visit beesinyourbackyard.com or order their book.