If you have been outside at all this summer, you have probably noticed bees buzzing around. That is why it’s a good time to celebrate National Bee Day along with beekeepers and farmers around the country. August 16 is a day to raise awareness about the vital importance of these tiny animals to our ecosystems and daily lives. Many people are afraid of bees, but they indeed pose little threat to people who don’t bother them first. Although bees and wasps are often confused with one another, they have distinguishing characteristics that set them apart. Bees are typically rounder and hairier than wasps, while wasps have slimmer “waists” and longer wings than bees.
We know of about 20,000 species of bees in the world, and many of them are different from the honey bee we all know (the classic yellow bee with black stripes). They come in different sizes and colors, and some are even fluffier than others. There are 946 reported native species in Colorado, which is almost a quarter of the national total. According to Betty Ford Alpine Gardens in Vail, 94 species have been identified in Eagle County! Unlike the highly social honey bee, most native bees live solitary lives rather than as part of complex hives.
But what do bees do?
Bees, along with other animals such as hummingbirds, butterflies, moths, wasps, flies (not kitchen flies) and even some bats, are considered pollinators. That is, they help plants reproduce. Plants, being immobile, cannot go in search of a mate like animals, so they need extra help. The flower, in return, offers sweet nectar and pollen as a reward. Pollinators transport pollen from the anthers (male part) of the flower to the stigma (female part) of another flower, so the flower can produce a fruit or seed. Thus, the world is filled with plants that are vital parts of every terrestrial ecosystem and human agriculture.
What did you eat in the past day? Much of the food we depend on being in the grocery store is pollinated by bees, including tomatoes, pumpkins, peppers, oranges, tangerines, apples, strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, and an endless list. What would happen if we ran out of bees? About 75% of the produce we eat would no longer be on our table. While we could eat grains such as rice, wheat or corn (as they are wind-pollinated), they are lower in vitamins and micronutrients. This could become a reality as bee populations are currently declining globally. Pesticide use, monocultures, degradation of natural habitats, invasive species and climate change all threaten bee populations.
What can we do to help bees?
All kinds of bees love the native wildflowers that grow in our region such as: arnica (yellow color), fireweed or sticky geranium (pink color), columbine, penstemon or lupine (purple color) and cow parsnip or yarrow (white color). Bees cannot see the color red, but hummingbirds can, so flowers like scarlet gilia and scarlet paintbrush have elongated, tubular shapes to support a hummingbird's beak. So if you want to help native bees and hummingbirds, you already know which colors to grow! A “messy” yard, with snags and leaf litter, provides habitat for overwintering bees. Research the best landscaping practices for pollinators. Do not pick wildflowers you see when hiking, and avoid using pesticides and herbicides. Also, the next time you see a bee, don't be afraid, it's just looking for pollen and nectar nearby!
Ivett Lopez Garcia is a recent Naturalist at Walking Mountains, and is so passionate about bees that she has written two theses researching these tiny creatures.
