The Mighty Worker: 3 Ways to Save Bees from Extinction
A world without bees would not be as sweet. Honey, wax, propolis, royal jelly, pollen, and even bee venom would not exist in the place we call home. Today, on World Bee Day, we celebrate and honor the tiny, but mighty workers who help to improve our environment and acknowledge how important it is to ensure they stay alive.
What Bees Mean to Us and the Environment
Besides providing us with a sweetener, bees pollinate plants, which aids with plant reproduction. Without the help of bees, there would be no fertilization of seeds, which can eventually turn into fruits and vegetables. From apples to potatoes, bees carry the means to supply a bountiful harvest for humans and other animals to eat.
But, over the last few years, there has been a decrease in the number of bees. Bees are starting to go extinct because of habitat loss, diseases, climate change, and an abundance of pesticides. The list of reasons behind the extinction of bees is joylessly long, but we can prevent the extinction of these striped-shirt, mighty workers.
3 Ways to Save Bees from Extinction
Plant a Bee Garden
An ideal bee garden attracts and makes a home for our hardworking bees. Planting the right plants in your bee garden attracts bees, providing a place to reproduce honey and pollen.
When deciding which plants to use for your garden, consider domestic and bee-friendly plants. Domestic plants are common in your area, leading bees to have a familiar face in your neighborhood garden. Non-native plants may not provide the nutrients that bees need. Domestic plants provide more nectar and pollen, and may be edible to butterfly or moth caterpillars as well.
Every blooming plant needs different amounts of sunlight, but in this case, it is important to consider what bees need, which is direct sunlight. Direct sunlight provides warmth for the bees in all types of weather. The perfect bee garden provides bees with their favorite flowers with the right amount of sunlight so they can do their job and produce nectar and pollen for our environment.
Avoid Harmful Pesticides
Pesticides can harm bees, so when you’re making a bee garden, do not use harmful pesticides. In fact, pesticides often contaminate plants and can kill bees. When buying a plant for your lawn or garden, check if it contains any pesticides beforehand.
If you must use pesticides, be sure to use them in the evening. Bees start working in hives in the morning, and they head to bed around dusk. When you apply pesticides during the evening, it will give the flowers a chance to dry or dissolve before bees come around the plants to eat.
Alternatives to pesticides include: Spinosad, Pyrethrum, Neem Oil, and Boric Acid
Support Local Beekeepers and Organization
Local beekeepers and organizations work hard to help bees in their local community. With the help of local beekeepers and organizations, bees maintain hives with shelter and are provided with medication or resources that will efficiently assist them in their jobs. Providing assistance to your local beekeepers and organizations can be a helping hand in preventing bees from going extinct.
Understanding the importance of bees in our environment and how to save them from extinction, will make our world a better place. At Golden Arrow, we work to create strong and sustainable packaging alternatives. Just like bees, we make our world more sustainable.