Let's Save the Bees

Honeybees. Yes, they are those pesky little critters who you do not want on your bad side, but they are doing so much good underneath their moody exterior. They are necessary for nearly 80 percent of all crops that are used directly for food worldwide—and they are becoming endangered!

Some may ask, why are the honeybees so important? Honeybees are responsible for every one in three bits of food. That is a third of our meals! Bees pollinate not only fruit and vegetable crops but also seed crops. We can not continue to plant and grow crops without the bees to pollinate.

Why have the bees disappeared? Well, pesticides are to blame. A certain insecticide called neonicotinoid is used by farmers to kill off plant-eating insects and pests. Once the bees bring the contaminated nectar back to their hives, their immune systems can become out-of-whack, which leads them to become confused and disoriented. There is also a disorder called Colony Collapse Disorder which is when all of the bees within a colony leave the queen bee and their hive. When the plants are sprayed with pesticides, bees are consuming them.

During research constructed by the USDA and the University of Maryland, they discovered that bees with a high CCD destruction rate were collecting pollen with nine different kinds of pesticides. These pesticides are extremely harmful to not only our bees but also butterflies, and even birds.

What will happen as a result of a world without bees? Fruits and vegetables that we love will be taken off shelves of grocery stores because without bees to pollinate—they will not grow! They will simply no longer exist.

For example, almond plants are pollinated by bees. Without the pollination, the plants will have a very heavy decrease in almond production. Almond hulls are used in various cattle feed, and with a decrease in almonds, there will be a decrease in food available for the livestock. Which means less meat, cheese, and other dairy products, and the prices for those items will skyrocket.

Oh—and don't forget about coffee! Bees are responsible for pollinating Coffea Arabica, which is used for the majority of coffee consumed around the world. Without those bees to pollinate, you can bet the price for your morning coffee will be through the roof.

Saving the bees starts by planting flowers! Planting wildflower seeds during the spring for our bees to pollinate and get nectar from is the first step you can take to saving our bees. Flowers that can provide a long season of nectar rich resources for our bees is the best way to help the bees. Not only that, but you can become a beekeeper yourself! Although the job is not for everyone, it is a good and easy way to earn some money. It also provides bees with a safe environment and your community with some delicious honey. You can start by making a bee house! It is fun and lets your creativity shine, while also giving the bees a safe place to nest and store their honey. You can also help save the bees by spreading the word! Share articles like this one to educate everyone on the high risks of bee endangerment.

Saving the bees is saving the food that we eat, and saving the animals that we raise. The next time you see a bee—don't shoo it away! Remember they are not here to hurt you, they are here to help! We need the bees, and now the bees need us. So what are you waiting for? Start planting!