Help save the bees!

Bees are the most important living beings on this planet, the Earthwatch Institute declared in a recent meeting of the Royal Geographical Society of London. However, wildlife experts and scientists conclude that bees are on the endangered species list.

According to Wired, the bees that are most in danger are wild bees, “most of which are solitary, stingless, ground-nesting bees you’ve never heard of. Incredible losses in native bee diversity are already happening.”

Wild bee populations have seen a steep drop in many areas. One study found that wild bees have declined by 90 percent in New England. Another found that 50 percent of Midwestern native bee species disappeared from their historic ranges in the last 100 years. Four bumblebee species declined 96 percent in the last 20 years, and three species are believed to already be extinct.

Even honey bee populations that are managed for crop pollination have declined by 40 percent. While these bees are not likely to go extinct, high bee losses year after year may increase costs for farmers, leading to higher food costs.

There are a number of reasons for the decline of bees:

• Climate change
• Habitat loss from development, such as deforestation
• Exposure to toxins, including pesticides, herbicides and fungicides
• Pests and diseases, such as the varroa mite
• Loss of forage (food plants and flowers)

Why are bees so important? According to the United Nations, three out of four food crops across the globe that produce fruits or seeds for humans to eat depend, at least partially, on pollinators. If bees didn’t pollinate, those plants would not be able to reproduce.

What should we do to help save the bees?

Some activists believe that we should immediately prohibit the use of pesticides, promote completely natural agricultural alternatives and carefully monitor their health and welfare.

The State of Minnesota has taken a dramatic step: pay homeowners if they turn their lawns into bee-friendly habitat. Lawmakers approved a new spending program in 2019 called Lawns to Legumes. It sets aside $900,000 annually to pay homeowners who replace traditional lawns with bee-friendly wildflowers, clover and native grasses. It’s part of a larger effort to help the state’s declining bee population.

Keep your soil and plants healthy

If your soil is healthy, with lots of beneficial microorganisms, your plants will thrive. They will be better able to resist invasions of undesirable insects, diseases and weeds. You may be able to grow a completely organic garden. So bees in your yard won’t be exposed to harmful pesticides.

In Harmony’s natural lawn, tree and shrub care services help save the bees by making landscapes healthier. We use a variety of methods to improve the health of soil and plants. This includes brewing compost tea to use on our clients’ landscapes. We also use organic fertilizers, micronutrients and other natural products. Contact us if you would like to know more about our services.

Avoid pesticides

Systemic insecticides (e.g., neonicotinoids, including imidacloprid) especially have been shown to negatively affect the health of honey bees. Many other countries have banned these pesticides for this reason. Even less-toxic pesticides can harm pollinators. If you must use them, use the most selective and least toxic ones and apply them at night when most pollinators aren’t active.

Talk to us about ways to deal with pests without using pesticides. The Statewide Integrated Pest Management Program (University of California) has a comprehensive website about less-toxic ways to manage a wide range of pests, including insects, mites, diseases, vertebrates and weeds. Grow Smart, Grow Safe lists pesticides by brand name, so you can find out which ones are least toxic.

Invite bees to your landscape 

There are more than 3,600 species of native bees in North America. Together they form the most important group of pollinators. You could build nests for native bees.

You can also help save the bees by adding homes for mason bees and leafcutter bees in your yard. Right now is an ideal time to pick up mason bees. Mason bees pollinate early in the season, and leafcutter bees work in the summer. These bees will increase your fruit harvest and encourage native plants. Both are small, shy, solitary bees.

Crown Bees sells bees and houses. You may also find them at local nurseries.

Renting is an easy way to get started with bees. Rent Mason Bees offers bees for pickup or shipment to your house.

Plant a pollinator garden

A pollinator garden will attract bees, birds and other pollinators. Design your garden to have flowers blooming throughout the year. Some pollinators are active in spring and others later in the growing season. Having flowers in bloom in different seasons also adds color and fragrance to your garden.

Choose several colors of flowers. Bees are especially attracted to blue, violet, white and yellow. Local native plants provide especially good sources of nectar and pollen.

Here are some lists of pollinator-friendly plants. You can find other lists online. Many nurseries also label pollinator plants or have displays of bee-friendly plants.

• Pollinator Plants: Maritime Northwest Region, Xerces Society
• Selecting Plants for Pollinators, Pollinator Society
• Plants for Pollinators: Bees, Great Plant Picks
• Bee-Friendly Gardening, Puget Sound Beekeepers Association
• 12 Plants to Entice Pollinators to Your Garden, OSU Extension Service
• Plants that Attract Pollinators in the Pacific Northwest, Dunn Lumber

Volunteer to help save the bees

Participate in the Pacific Northwest Bumble Bee Atlas. Attend a training and help collect critical information on our native bumble bees. This citizen science project seeks a better understanding of where these animals are living. This will help with efforts to conserve them and to protect habitat in the best places.

Work through Bee City USA to raise awareness about pollinators in your local community. The goal is to pass a resolution committing to actions to protect and enhance pollinator habitat.