Amanda Smith
Lantern Staff
For someone who is seemingly innately terrified of any species of insect, I have grown to become quite fond of bees and appreciate the role they play in the ecosystem. Bees are responsible for the food we eat (every third bite, to be exact!), the clean air we breathe and even all of the different and beautiful species of plants we see around.
Unfortunately, the population of bees, many different species of them, have declined in recent years. The most recent update on the status of bees in North America was the announcement of the Rusty Patched Bumble Bee and its newly found place on the endangered species list. This is one of the only species that works during the colder months, so it’s kind of a big deal.
The reason why this species, and most of the others, are seeing dying numbers in population is mostly from the use of pesticides and herbicides. Disease, climate change and habitat loss are also to blame. Note: Most of these causes are from people, so I don’t care what anybody tells you–we CAN help!
But why are bees important? Bees are a huge component when it comes to pollination, and pollination is important for all levels of life on earth. Efforts to conserve this species will not only help the species itself but also give aid towards other pollinators who share resources with the Rusty Patched Bumble Bee.
You may be wondering: What can we do to help this issue? The answer is a lot of fairly simple things. According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, you may start by planting a mix of flowers, providing flowers in early spring and avoiding the use of pesticides are a start. One should also avoid mowing and raking to preserve their homes in the ground.
One can also take action by contacting their senators and asking them to support research for honeybees, buying local honey and perhaps most importantly, knowing the difference between bees and wasps. Bees won’t sting unless they feel threatened, but wasps are ruthless and terrifying so kill them.
So, together let’s try and make earth a better place for bees and therefore a better place for plants, animals and humans because THAT would be the bee’s knees.
