The US Fish and Wildlife Service just finished reviewing petitions to add certain species to the endangered list, one of which includes the Southern Plains bumblebee. This large black-and-yellow bee is found in the mid-Atlantic states, the mid-west and the Plains states from Texas to North Dakota. It lives in open prairies, meadows and grasslands. It is also found in grasslands and savannahs of south-east states, including Florida. Habitat loss and degradation, plus pesticides have led to sharp population declines.
Some things that you can do to help bumblebees in your area include planting pollinator gardens, avoiding the use of pesticides, and making sure there is long grass and undisturbed leaf-litter (in early spring) so that bumblebee queens have adequate cover. Thank you for being kind to animals and bees.
We are about to enter into one of my favorite times of the year –the holiday season which encompasses Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, and Christmas. I realize that life is far from perfect and there are so many humans and animals that are suffering. With that said, may we try to treat one another with kindness. May we have gratitude for all of our blessings, and may we protect this world with all of its beauty.
Here is a photo of a monarch butterfly and a honeybee which unexpectedly came before me while I was walking in a nature preserve. I was and am in such admiration of their magnificence and strength. Most butterflies only live 2-6 weeks, and the ones which migrate from Mexico to North America can live from August or September to April. Bees live 5- 7 weeks and are incredibly valuable to the planet. One out of every three bites you put in your mouth was pollinated by honeybees.
Remember, life is short and precious. Live it mindfully and share your love with others.
I have been thinking a lot about bees, and our food supply. As you may know, our supply of fruits, vegetables and nuts is linked to the health of the bee population. The bee population has been in sharp decline, especially because of neonicotinoids which are the most widely used insecticides in the world. Unlike traditional pesticides, which are typically applied to plant surfaces, they are absorbed and transported through all parts of the plant tissue.
Neonicotinoids are modeled after nicotine and interfere with insects’ nervous systems, causing tremors, paralysis and eventually, death. Neonicotinoids are so toxic that one corn seed treated with them contains enough insecticide to kill over 80,000 honey bees.
So what can you do? Write to the EPA to ban these pesticides. You can also refrain from using heavy chemicals on your lawn and create gardens that attract bees and support their health, and ultimately, our own.
Do you like honey? I do. It is great with strawberries and is delicious all by itself. Did you know it takes about 6,000 bees visiting more than 2 million flowers to make a pound of honey? Honey is wonderful for many reasons. It helps with weight loss and improves athletic performance. It fights infection. And it has antibacterial, antioxidant, and antifungal properties. You just have to make sure you buy raw, unfiltered honey.
Bees are intimately connected to our planet and I think of them especially because the Earth Day holiday will be here before we know it. Earth Day takes place on April 22nd. In past blogs I have written about how we treat animals and the effect our actions have on them. Bees are animals too, even though most people usually lump them only in the insect category.
I am very concerned about bees because they have been dying at alarming rates over the last years. Until recently, many people did not understand why bees were dying. Harvard University researchers determined a certain class of pesticides, called neonicotinoids, is to blame. These pesticides have been banned in Europe but not in the US. Neonicotinoids can persist in the soil for more than ten years and are used on corn, soy, wheat and more. Bees are essential to us, for they pollinate our crops. Without bees, we would lose a tremendous amount of food. The next time you eat an apple, a pear, an olive, or some almonds; you can thank a bee for its hard work.
Remember that Earth Day will soon be here. Take good care of the ground beneath your feet and the plants around you. Keep your yard and work-place free of pesticides. Pesticides are harmful to the bees, your health, your children’s health, and to your pet’s health.
