Super Eco

Photo credit: jude on flickr

Since it seems that industrialized agriculture may well be responsible for the decline in the US honeybee population, it is more important than ever to support wild honeybees and all native pollinator populations.

Managed and trucked bee populations around the world are collapsing and disappearing. One factor may be that they are forced to thrive in larger than normal cells which produces hyper-bred over sized bees that are more prone to mite infestation. Smaller (normal) sized bees, because they have smaller tracheal openings, are less prone to infestation by mites. Because they are forced to thrive--starve-- on monoculture and exposed to genetically modified food sources and pesticides, bee populations around the world are declining and scientists are scrambling to pinpoint both the problem and the cure.

Although about two-thirds of world food production is not dependent on active pollination--grains like wheat, rice, millet are wind pollinated--some of the most nutritious foods, like fruits, nuts, cacao, coffee, avocados, and vegetables, do. It would be a global disaster if pollinators like bees, butterflies and bats disappeared.

Trucking managed bees is a relatively new blip in the long history of beekeeping, arising from the needs of sprawling industrial farming practices. When agriculture consists of smaller, family-run organic farms with hedgerows and bordering woodland areas, about 80 percent of the pollination can be achieved by native bees, wild honeybees, butterflies and other pollinators.

By far most of the 3,500 types of wild and native bees in the US are solitary and do not live in hive environments but in holes in wood, nooks and crevices in woodland borders from where they travel and pollinate nearby crops.

Due to human encroachment butterfly populations are also on the decline across the US.

Because encroachment, herbicide and pesticide and habitat depletion are major factors, here are some things we can do to help our local pollinators:

1. Buy local, organic honey. This supports healthy, properly maintained honeybee populations.
2. Buy produce from organic and smaller, local farming enterprises, they attract and support lots of native pollinators.
3. Never, ever use pesticides or herbicides on your property.
4. Plant clover in your lawn and let native weeds thrive on the margins of your property.
5. Stay away from "double" flower varieties, when choosing flowers for your garden, as they tend to be all petal and no pollen. Choose single, less complex petal varieties.
6. Plant bee and butterfly gardens. Bees in general, are more attracted to blue, yellow and purple flowers. Hummingbirds are attracted to mostly red, whereas butterflies are attracted to a wide variety of colors.
7. Plant many different types of flowers--shallow-faced and deep-throated--this will attract pollinators of all shapes and sizes.
8. Provide and maintain a clean water source on your property.

Get out there in your gardens and take some pictures of your pollinators and join the Super Eco group on flickr, so that you can share nature's beautiful diversity with us!