Why are Bees Important?

Bees are One of the Most Impactful Flying Insects on the Planet

Does the phrase “as busy as a bee” sound familiar?

It probably does, and for good reason.

While we’re busy completing daily tasks, someone might say they are as busy as a bee — but we don’t usually think about the actual little bee and how busy it is.

Bees are one of the hardest working creatures, but the insect is truly underappreciated.

So, why are bees important to us and the environment?

Benefits of Bees & Pollination

Bees can be a frightening sight at a picnic — but the winged pest plays a big part in food being a possibility for us to enjoy.

Among the benefits of bees, pollination is at the top of the list.

Pollination is the transfer of pollen to a stigma, ovule, flower, or plant to allow fertilization. It’s seemingly invisible to the human eye, but it holds substantial importance in agriculture.

Thus, the benefits of bees truly outweigh any fear we should have of these flying insects.

Improved Food & Diet Through Pollination

If we didn’t have bees, our world would be a much different place.

Take into consideration how much bees, like honey bees, pollinate.

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), more than 75 percent of the world’s food crops producing fruits and seeds depend on pollination.

The food we consume largely depends on bee pollinators for sustained production, yield, and quality.

Pollination-dependent crops, like coffee and cocoa beans, provide income for farmers — especially smallholder and family-run farms.

Not to mention the ever-increasing value honey holds as a means of income for farms and beekeepers.

Plants that are well-pollinated are more likely to produce larger, tastier fruits and vegetables. Plants have the ability to determine how much effort is needed to produce bountiful fruits and vegetables.

Plants that aren’t pollinated appropriately will produce something that is misshaped, bland, or mealy.

And thanks to bees acting as pollinators, farm animals and livestock have a diverse source of food to forage.

Biodiversity Through Bee Pollination

Pollination is one of the most important factors that contributes to biodiversity.

It helps to produce a variety of different plants, and as we have learned, a lot of these are food crops.

Not only are flowering plants dependent on pollination, bees and forest beekeeping help to sustain forest ecosystems. This process is done through the regeneration of trees, which then helps to conserve forest biodiversity.

Organizations, like the FAO, are working to promote worldwide action to safeguard wild and managed pollinators while promoting the sustainable use of pollination services.

These services have been recognized as vital for agricultural growth and a healthy ecosystem.

Bee Population Declining

Pollinators, like bees and butterflies, are under threat, ensuring a sustainable agriculture can reduce the threat these helpful insects face.

The loss of biodiversity and the wide-spread use of harmful pesticides have been heavily linked to the bee population declining in recent years.

Some pesticides, when applied at high concentration level or frequently, create a chemical-intensive environment and leads to negative effects on pollinators.

In turn, concentrated applications have been linked to the bee population declining over the years.

With the benefits of bees in mind, professional bee removal and control is essential if you suspect your home or business has a bee infestation.

Environmentally friendly treatment and prevention plans give you peace of mind while also safeguarding this pollinator.

Did you know? Catseye Pest Control works with local beekeepers in each of our service territories to protect these wonderful pollinators!

For more information about professional bee removal and control solutions, contact our pest management professionals today.