Nature blessed us with such wonders in this world – we have so much to be thankful for. One being the humble bee. Without these beautiful hard-working pollinators, the impact on our future would be devastating. They are an integral part of the food chain, and their numbers are falling at an alarming rate.
Their plight over the years has been immense, just surviving intensive cultivation, pesticides and loss of habitat has been no easy feat, and with 97pct of our ancient wildflower meadows lost since WW11 we could be in serious trouble.
Bumble bees are my favourites and don’t actually produce honey, just nectar. They are docile and reluctant to sting, extremely tolerant of people and have no interest in your picnic but bless each flower as they pass and nature certainly blessed us. Quite often you will see a bumble bee lying still on the floor, it may be resting, tired or spent, the bumble queen can rest for an average of 30 to 45 minutes. Gently move them to somewhere safe, if you think they are exhausted then sometimes a sugar/water mixture may revive them.
Honey bees never sleep, are extremely clever, grasp concepts and even recognise human faces. They can solve mazes, fly up to fifteen miles per hour and one ounce of honey would fuel a bee’s flight around the world. These small industrious, brave creatures are known to dance to communicate with each other.
In the USA, intensive almond cultivation has killed more than 50 billion bees in a single year. Here, in the UK, beehives are raided by common bird species, including crows, magpies and starlings. Over recent years the honey bees have been attacked and killed by a mite infestation (varroa mite), a tiny red-brown external parasite that infects whole colonies.
Just when you think life couldn’t become more difficult for these delightful creatures, a deadly newly established threat to our insects and honeybees is altering the biodiversity and is a threat to anyone with an allergy to hornet or wasp stings. The Asian Giant Hornet – the worlds nastiest hornet has now spread and become established in many countries. First found in the UK in 2016 has now survived our winters and is fast becoming at home here. This frightening monster is mostly black except for the fourth abdominal segment which has a yellow band along with yellow legs – and just one hornet can eat 30-50 honeybees in a day!
Our government are asking us to be vigilant, photograph the location along with a description of the insect and report these killers. Do not approach the nest. There have been 22 confirmed sightings so far last year.
Its important to help our workers, plant wildflowers, enhance nesting spots and consider installing bamboo stalks or blocks of wood with drilled holes. Some plants repel insects like hornets, such as citronella, thyme, spearmint, wormwood and eucalyptus.
Without our pollinators the human race and all of our ecosystems would not survive. I know you are thinking that perhaps I am being rather dramatic, but believe me I couldn’t be more serious. So, if someone tells you that you are the ‘bees’ knees’ be proud, get a ‘bee in your bonnet’ and make a ‘bee line’ to your garden, be a ‘busy bee’ and strive to protect these hard working, immensely ingenious insects, who throughout history symbolise dedication, hard work, prosperity and fertility. Bee brave, stand up and bee counted.
If you think you have sighted the Asian Giant Hornet then download the free Asian Hornet Watch App, via your smartphone.
I thank you and my children thank you.