Bees


 

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Not being an entymologist I will have included a number of insects that probably are not bees but all were observed hard at work in the garden as pollinators. A couple of specimens look like flies with stripes, possibly mimicking wasps as a defence. 

Native bees come in a variety of sizes and patterns, further confusing attempts at identification. The experts will know which is which.

There has been much concern regarding the well-documented "bee colony collapse" (BCC) syndrome. Most of the expert opinion I have found suggests this affects primarily the non-native, domesticated honey bee. It is vulnerable to a number of health risks because of its habit of living in densely populated colonies or hives. This promotes the incubation of disease which is then readily spread when apiarists transport hives in pursuit of flowering crops. Native, solitary bees are of no commercial interest (apart from their role as pollinators) and are not subject to the same risks that may be playing a key role in BCC. They are, however, significantly threatened by loss of habitat resulting from unwise agricultural practices dictating that every square inch of land must be cultivated. In regions where small portions of agricultural land have been allowed to revert to their natural state, native bees (which shelter and nest in the soil, grass and shrubbery) have made a strong come-back, offsetting the loss of pollinator presence caused by the decline in domesticated bee populations.

Giving up a small amount of agricultural land may be the small price that must be paid to secure the future of our food crops. Blaming BCC on certain insecticides, cell phones and climate change could be classic instances of barking up the wrong tree although all potential challenges to bee populations merit continuing investigation.