The ABC's of Bees
ASk ANy SCHOOL CHILD “WHAT DO BEES DO?” and he or she will most likely answer “Bees make honey.” That is certainly true, but only for honey bees. Even more important than making honey is that bees pollinate plants. Only honey bees make honey. Now firmly established across the continent, the popular honey bee is not a native bee, but was brought to America by European settlers 400 years ago. Its full name is the European Honey Bee.
In the Old World honey was considered liquid gold for its medicinal and health properties. It was only natural that settlers would bring coveted beehives to the New World. The honey bee made its way westward but was stopped in its migration by the height and cold of the Rocky Mountains. Determined pioneers managed to carry beehives across the mountains in covered wagons, and a western population of honey bees was established. In recent years honey bees have been in the news with frequent reports of CCD, or Colony Collapse Disorder. CCD describes the mysterious malady of when large amounts of honey bees are missing from their hives. Our native Mason bees, and most other non-honey bees, are not affected by CCD.Now that you know something about imported honey bees, let’s continue with our ABCs of Bees:
A IS FOR AFRICANIzED BEES. Tagged as “killer bees” by the media, Africanized bees are another bee import, having first been confirmed in the US in 1990. African honey bees were brought to Brazil in 1957 to crossbreed with regular honey bees in an effort to improve honey production. But the African honey bees proved to be much more aggressive than docile European bees. The hybrid Africanized honey bees have been migrating north since then. Reports of deaths by “killer bees” spawned sensationalized media accounts and a few scary movies. According to the Houston Beekeepers Association (www.houstonbeekeepers.org), stings from these bees are rare and fatalities are extremely rare. In the 20 years that Africanized bees have been in Texas, there has been only one confirmed fatality. Your odds of being struck by lightning are greater than the danger posed by Africanized bees.
B IS FOR BUMBLE BEE. When is the last time you saw a big black and yellow bumble bee? If you think it’s been awhile, you might be right. At least four species of North American bumble bees are in decline, and two of those four face extinction. Bumble bees are more efficient than honey bees in pollinating certain crops because their large size makes them able to fly in cooler temperatures, wetter climates, and lower light levels. They use a “buzz pollination” method by grabbing a flower and vibrating it to dislodge The popular honey pollen grains. A good tomato crop bee is not a native harvest can usually be attributed to bee, but was brought Bumble bee pollination. to America by According to The Xerces Society (www.xerces.org/bumblebees), a European settlers 400 non-profit organization that protects years ago. invertebrates and their habitat, these bees may be picking up diseases from commercially produced Bumble bees that are transported throughout the country. You can help protect these important pollinators by keeping track of current sightings and nests in your area, and by reporting any old sightings or collections to establish a population baseline. Go to the Xerces website above to learn more.
C IS FOR COMMON BEES. Bees have lived in America for millions of years. Encapsulated bees have been found intact in fossilized tree sap, called amber. Today, two common native bees you might see in your yard are the Mason and Leafcutter bees. Leafcutter bees are appropriately named because they cut half circles out of leaves in which to build their nests. They are also good pollinators. The chewed up leaves are mixed with mud and clay to make a homely hut-like structure for their young. Garden plants and trees where you might see Leafcutter work include wisteria, crape myrtles, and roses. The cutting of the foliage by the small Leafcutter bee does not hurt the plant, so don’t spray our native bee! The friendly Mason bee is so named because it works with mud (masonry) like a brick layer to build and seal its nest. A female Mason bee can lay six or seven eggs in each six-inch nesting tube provided by a human-made bee house. (See sidebar for more information about bee houses.) Mason bees almost never sting. They too are superb pollinators, specializing in early season bloomers like fruit trees, blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, and many other flowering fruits, ornamental trees, and plants. A single Mason bee can pollinate as much as 100 honey bees. All bees are essential to our environment. Bees have provided so many benefits to humankind for so long, it’s time we give them the respect and help they deserve.