Bees in Danger? Pollinating insects are one of the most important creatures in the world. But bees are in danger as their numbers have been declining for decades, pushing them to the brink of extinction. As a consequence, they are now considered highly endangered species, with recent research indicating that 90% of bees worldwide have disappeared. Bee colonies consist of queens, drones, and workers. They play a crucial role not only in honey collection but also in the pollination of plants. Moreover, they might be the only living beings that do not serve as carriers for any kind of pathogen, be it fungus, virus, or bacteria.
Why are bees in danger?
- Due to the immense deforestation in recent decades
- Decreasing areas for habitats
- Loss of safe places for nests
- Environmental pollution
- Climate change
- Decreasing number of flowering plants
- Uncontrolled use of pesticides
- Changes in the soil
- Mobile phone waves disrupting their navigation, leading to the loss of their sense of direction
These factors individually have a significant impact on the decreasing number of bees in the world. Their combined effects pose unimaginable consequences. Approximately 70% of the world’s agriculture depends on bees. What does this mean in practice? It means that these insects are required in some form to produce 70 out of 100 food items.
Pollination by bees is invaluable, as it:
- Facilitates the reproduction of plants
- Provides food for animals as well
Thus, without bees, not only plants but also the animal world could disappear from Earth.
Interesting facts about bees
- Bees fly at an average speed of 14-15 km/h and cover so much distance in their lifetime that they could circle the Earth three times.
- A single honeybee visits an average of 7000 flowers.
- Approximately 4 million flowers need to be visited to produce 1 kg of honey.
- Three out of four crops depend on bee pollination.
- Without bees, there would be no apples, coffee, peppers, cocoa, and the list goes on.
Let’s save the bees!
How can we help as individuals?
- Plant as many flowering plants as possible, even on balconies and terraces.
- Use as few pesticides as possible.
- Protect the environment.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bee
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