Natural History Wanderings

National Geographic reported on the first national inventory of indigenous wild bees. As honeybees, who pollinate crops, have been dying off the inventory of native bees takes on increasing importance. Over half of the U.S. honey bee populations have disappeared in the last ten years. It is possible some of their  role might be filled by native bees, however, we are not sure how the native bee populations have bee doing. The inventory will begin to give some answers. Pesticides, fungicides, viruses, and other factors, have contributed to the honeybees’ decline.

Scientists believe that wild bee populations have decreased due to habitat loss from the growth of agriculture and home gardens replacing native plants with exotics most pollinators of their food.  The loss of native vegetation  decreases the bees food source. Bees’ food sources may also be suffering from  the effects of climate change, droughts, floods, and flowers blooming prematurely as the days grow warmer.

Read more at As Honeybees Die Off, First Inventory of Wild Bees Is Under Way.