The honeybee which plays a key and important role in the human and natural world is in serious trouble.
The UK Government's conservation agency chief scientist Tom Tew is urging gardeners to go out and research plants to see which the bees like and then plant them in their flowerbeds in a bid to reverse the declining number of honeybees. According to the UK Government between 10-15% of honeybees have fallen in the last two years. Dr Dew said 'we need to recognise that if we want plants to flourish we need healthy populations of insects to sustain them.'
The Honeybee
Scientifically coined Apis mellifera in 1758 by Carolus Linnaeus is one of the most familiar insects around the world. Donning a bright colour pattern to warn off potential predators these honeybees know how to defend themselves. Their weapon is a modified ovipositor or an egg-laying tube, which is combined with a venom gland to create a stinger or formally known as an aculeus which is located at the end of the abdomen. However because the stinger is created from a structure found only in females, male bees cannot sting, but nonetheless, when the beehive is threatened the honeybees will swarm out to attack in order to drive the enemy away protecting the sticky substance that we love and know as honey.
These Small Flying Insects are Needed to Sustain our Lives
They're fast and they're always busy. These buzzing bees are never without work. But could the honeybees be at risk of extinction? Last year nearly a third of the UK's 240,000 honeybee colonies were wiped out putting at risk the pollination of fruits and vegetables. The consequence of losing our honeybees would be dire for our needs. Playing an important role in agriculture the extinction of the honeybee would mean food shortages and high prices for foods such as nuts, fruits, and vegetables. Meat and dairy products would also be affected, as most livestock is reared on honeybee pollinated feed.
However not only are the honeybees important to the survival of humans, they are also a crucial element for the environment as they pollinate flowers and fruits which the birds and small mammals depend on.
For such a small insect, they have a big job of sustaining life.
What is the Reason for the Decline in Honeybees
The National Bee Unit has blamed the decline on too much rain. In the summer of 2007 and spring 2008 in the UK alone too much rain was the cause of the honeybees decline which confined them to their hives thus enabling the parastic varroa mite to suck the bees blood, while they were unable to forage. But other factors should be taken into consideration too. Bees in the countryside get a less nutritious diet, while pesticides are another implication in honeybees deaths around the world.
What Needs to be Done
Honey is worth between £10-30 million and while the honeybee plays an important role in agriculture the value of commerical crops that benefit from the pollination of the honeybees is valued to be between £100-200 million each year. Of course action needs to be taken to help with the survival of the honeybees. One way this is being done is with the introduction of a newly designed 'beehaus' which is going on the roof of the Natural England's central London offices enabling the bees to forage. Other areas such as St James' Park and Buckingham Palace gardens will also be helping out.
Currently 80% of the honey on sale is imported, which is why it's even more imperative for more people to get involved with the introduction of the new 'beehaus'. Thus enabling people to produce their own honey in their own gardens.
Dr Dew said 'there's no reason why our towns and cities should exist as wildlife deserts - wildlife can thrive when we design our urban areas with nature in mind and the 'beehaus' is a great example of how easy it is for anyone to bring the natural world closer to their doorstep.'
Most people would think that keeping bees requires space and time. But surprisingly it doesn't take much. Keeping a beehive can be kept on balconies, roof tops or even gardens. Imagine by just giving an hour's attention a week in the summer you could be the owner of 50 pots of honey from your very own busy bees.
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