Buzzing Bees

Steve Bridges

There is no other creature in the world that contributes so much to the diversity of food that we eat than the honeybee. There are over 150 U.S. crops that are pollinated by bees, including melons, fruit, cucumbers, and berries. With nearly 5,000 species of bees that call North America home you would think that there would be plenty of bees to go around. However, bees are having a very bad time these days. Misuse of pesticides, new diseases and parasites, development, clear-cut logging, and loss of forage plants has all contributed to a very alarming decline in bee population. We have always had a healthy number of bees here at the nursery that would swarm over their choice of plants. This year we have very few bees here.

The main culprit behind the demise of our bees is the Varroa mite. Originating in Southeast Asia it arrived in the US in the late 1980's. Attacking both the adult and the pupal stage of the bee life cycle it has all but wiped out our native wild bee population. Well-managed domesticated honeybees are generally not affected. But unless you have a kept colony of honeybees within a mile or so of your garden your plants will have a very hard time being pollinated. Tracheal mites, also introduced in the late 80's are also a problem. They attack the respiratory system of bees, with whole colonies having to be destroyed. A bacterial infection, called American foulbrood is also to blame. So what does this mean to you, the home gardener?

Is your squash falling off the plant small and undeveloped? Are your cucumbers lacking the robust taste that you are used to? Are your green beans a few peas short of a full pod? These and more problems are caused by lack of pollination. Some fruits and vegetables only need one trip from a pollinator while others need multiple trips. It is the pollination of multiple seeds that releases the chemicals that start the formation of the flesh of the fruit and the sugars that make the fruit ripen. Without good pollination you get bland tasting, undeveloped fruit. The good gardener needs to be as concerned about pollination as he or she is with the usual concerns of water and soil fertility.

If you garden in the country you may want to consider raising your own bees. Unless you are highly allergic to bees it is relatively safe. In addition to help with pollination, you could harvest 30-60 gallons of honey per hive! A local business that can get you started is listed below. The urban gardener can use the alfalfa leafcutting bee to help with pollination. It is a non-aggressive bee that can be tended to without the usual gear and precautions that go along with the more common domesticated variety. They are safe around the home. The leafcutting bee only uses parts of leaves to line their nest and will not defoliate all your plants. A desirable wild species of bee that you can purchase is the blue orchard bee. By making a homemade hive you can even naturally attract these bees to your garden. Again, look below for the business that can help get you started.

The Africanized honeybee has given a bad name to all bees. They are aggressive and by mating with the native bee have reduced the native bee's ability to pollinate. Problem bees need to be removed by trained professionals. All other bees should be left alone. Write or call these organizations for more information. B Weaver Apiari, Route 1, Box 256, Navasota, TX 77868 tel: (409) 825-7312 fax: (409) 825-7351 or Orchard Bees, 2100 Wayne St., Auburn, IN 46706. Or try WWW.pollination.com or WWW.honeybees.com.