It's actually a plant defense chemical that shoos harmful insects away and lures pollinators in. And a hive of hundreds of thousands of bees can make a cool parent. Places that are good for pollinators are good for people too. The Honey bee is probably the best-known bee around, but over 270 species of bee have been recorded in Great Britain. There are 3 different kinds of bees … Neonicotinoids are a group of a group of pesticides commonly used in UK farming. The time when bees have access to abundant sources of nearby nectar and can therefore produce the greatest volume of honey is called the honey flow. If your bees have enough room in the hive to spread out, then chances are they aren’t too crowded and most likely aren’t looking to find a new home. Here are the top five reasons why they are so important to us. It made me feel better. You may be feeling inclined to kill your attacker, but, this could prove to be a huge mistake. Ask government to prevent mass extinction. We rely on them and other insects to pollinate most of our fruit and vegetables. This article was updated and republished in 2019. They do this when they are hot and need to cool down. Sadly, over the past 15 years, colonies of bees have been disappearing, and the reason remains unknown. Mathematicians call this the "traveling salesman problem," and it can even stump some computers. Use your jacket, shirt, or any other item you may have on you. You could try: Find out more about bee-friendly gardening. Bee stings may also ease pain caused by rheumatoid arthritis. Bees might not be on the top of our food chain, but they pollinate around 70 out of the 100 crop species that feed 90% of the world. But they are essential to their ecosystems. Jam on toast? It’s interesting that you use one slang term “cool” to refer to an earlier slang term. An easy – and delicious – way to help the British honey bee is to buy the fruits of its labour: support beekeepers by choosing honey produced near you. You can make your garden, street and community bee-friendly. ban the outdoor use of 3 bee-harming pesticides. Mr Bumble in Oliver Twist and Dumbledore (a Cornish word for bumblebee) in Harry Potter suit their names well. Bees "dance" to communicate—a way of giving fellow bees directions to good food. Similarly, bees collect pollen near their hive, but far enough that predators can't find the hive. But they prefer it hot: 80-90 degrees. It's also vital that we persuade the government to take action. You’ll see all the different colours honey can be – from dark green and deep gold to almost pure white. The answer is partly because they’re native—I encourage native species whenever I can—and partly because they’re fun. Skunks are only sensitive to bee stings on their abdomens. If you thought bees were only good for painful stings and teaching youngsters about reproduction (along with the birds), think again. See a recent post on Tumblr from @mrbumblebeeboy about bees-are-cool. They also make honey, which animals and people love to eat as well as make many things with. Although bees use it as caulk, humans use it to fight off bacteria, viruses, and fungi. They exercise like mad whenever the mercury dips below about 50 degrees. They’re important if we’re going to cope with a changing climate – natural spaces absorb excess water and heat, and can offer cool shade. They beat their wings to try to cool the temperature of the hive. From pub signs and town names, from Shakespeare to JK Rowling, from beehive hair-dos to phrases like “having a bee in your bonnet” – the bee has been a star for centuries. They pollinate plants in gardens, parks and the wider countryside, including more than three-quarters of the UK’s wildflowers. To reinforce their hives, bees use a resin from poplar and evergreen trees called propolis. To understand how this "buffer zone" works, scientists studied bee behavior and wrote up a few algorithms. Leave us your email and we’ll do the rest. Although lots of solitary bees can be found in one area, they operate alone. 2. But for bumblebees, it's a snap. Although not everyone may think so, bees are insects that have many important purposes. We share bees’ need for varied, natural green spaces and the essentials such places provide, such as clean air and water. If you’ve decided to make somewhere better for bees, the first thing to do is survey your spot. None are protected by law. Scientists at Newcastle University found that nectar laced with caffeine helps bees remember where the flower is, increasing the chances of a return visit. Wasps are often associated with danger and, unlike bees, are not usually considered cute or helpful. They take parts—like eyebrows, lips, and ears—and cobble them together to make out the whole face. What did you have for breakfast today? Across Europe nearly 1 in 10 wild bee species face extinction. Take a short walk to see what’s attracting bees – are there plants or trees that look particularly popular? So far, they're the only animals known to solve the problem. One percent of all middle-aged bees become undertakers—a genetic brain pattern compels them to remove dead bees from the hive. When it comes to taking care of a nest, honeybees are in sync. You could provide a bundle of hollow plant stems or a luxurious bee hotel, packed with dry logs, untreated timber and soft, crumbly mortar. Known causes of bee decline include things that affect us too. Let’s consider a half-dozen reasons why honey bees might just be our best friends. WHY BEESPONSIBLE? 8 notes. But bees are under threat and without them so is our food and economy. In some regions, up to 90% of bees have disappeared! But most amazingly, regular honeybees—which perform multiple jobs in their lifetime—will change their brain chemistry before taking up a new gig. There's now overwhelming scientific evidence that neonicotinoids harm bees. Bees are incredibly valuable to our species and our planet in ways you may not expect. Bees are hardwired to do certain jobs. Cool Bee Facts. It’s tempting to think bees just provide us with honey – but in fact they’re behind much of the food we eat, including most fruit and vegetables. The great thing about gardening is that it’s good for you as well as wildlife. Soldier bees, discovered in 2012, work as security guards their whole life. But high honeybees exaggerate their moves and overemphasize the food's quality. In honor of National Honeybee Day this Friday, we’ve dedicated this week’s EnvironmentaLIST to the noble insect. On top of that, the U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates that honeybees pollinate up to 80 percent of the country's insect crops—meaning bees pollinate over $15 billion worth of crops each year. A whole building covered in window boxes is even more useful and looks fantastic. Sure, you know that bees pollinate our crops and give us honey. And in April 2018 countries across the European Union – including the UK – voted to ban the outdoor use of 3 bee-harming pesticides. Honey bees and bumblebees live socially, led by a queen and serviced by male drones and female worker bees. Bushy plants – try hyssop, hebe, rosemary and lavender. Scout bees, which search for new sources of food, are wired for adventure. Grilled tomatoes with your fry-up? Places that are good for pollinators are good for people too. Meanwhile, drones or male bees do not do anything except copulate with the colony’s queen bee to produce more eggs. Bees are hardwired to do certain jobs. Bees help to pollinate flowers, which is how they can bloom and grow more. You can also chat to friends and family about how cool bees are and help them to make their wild spaces bee-friendly. Researchers at Royal Holloway University in London found that bumblebees fly the shortest route possible between flowers. Bees are essential to a healthy environment and healthy economy. The scale of your bee-friendly growing will depend on your outside space, but it all helps. The truth is, if we want an economy that provides for everyone’s needs in the long term, we need to look after our natural environment. The other thing bees need is water – so make sure there’s a source nearby like a bird bath or pond, especially on hot days. Finally, the queen bees lay eggs, make the hive, and rule all the bees in the colony. A 2011 study even found that agitated honeybees can be pessimistic, showing that, to some extent, bees might have feelings. You can make a huge difference where you live by doing a few simple things. Not many people realize that our food supply depends heavily on bees. bees under threat factsheet “NEE-oh-Nicks”) are a relatively new type of pesticide, invented in the1980s. These include changes in land use, habitat loss, disease, pesticides, farming practices, pollution, invasive non-native plant and animal species, and climate change. Keep up to date with our campaigns and how you can get involved, including whether you can help with a donation, Friends of the Earth Limited Reg. You can just move into a hive—they come with some of the best air conditioning around, powered by bees! 3. Grow a range of plants that will provide a succession of flowers for as long as possible during the year – bees need nectar from very early spring until early winter. Now I know why! If there were no bees, pollen wouldn’t be carried from one flower to another. The bees at the entrance faced the same direction are “fanning”. The Vikings may have used a similar system: On sunny days, they navigated with sundials, but on cloudy days, sunstones—chunks of calcite that act like a Polaroid filter—helped them stay on course. If you've ever walked past a bees nest on a hot summer day, you've probably been too focused on avoiding getting stung, rather than stopping to wonder how all those bees stay cool… They weren’t kidding. The bumblebee has always been a source of special delight because of its portly features and furry bottom. They’re important if we’re going to cope with a changing climate – natural spaces absorb excess water and heat, and can offer cool shade. Never Kill the Bees. Cool, huh? Solitary bees include mason bees, leaf-cutter bees and mining bees. Their pollination services also help many of the world’s flowering plants to reproduce, supporting biodiversity and keeping our natural ecosystems healthy. Unlike many insects and mammals, bees don’t hibernate when it gets cold. Fresh air and gentle exercise improve health and wellbeing. Bees require a temperature of 50 degrees Fahrenheit or higher to fly easily without using up all of their nectar stores. But when it's cloudy, there's a backup—they navigate by polarized light, using special photoreceptors to find the Sun's place in the sky. Why Are Honey Bees So Important? It's basically beehive glue. Bees will also use water to help cool the interior of the hive through evaporation. #they'd be paranoid and watch their kid all day for signs. Even in beehives, there are workers and shirkers. Since 1900, the UK has lost 13 species of bee, and a further 35 are considered under threat of extinction. Grow some of these bee-friendly plants for every season. Pollination) and your flowers and vegetables will be happy for it. But in the summer, they rarely last longer than six weeks—they literally work themselves to death. Nature didn't intend for caffeine to be relegated to your morning pot of coffee. The outlook for bees right now is quite bleak – and their drop in numbers is a sign of the plight of the natural world as a whole. During chillier seasons, worker bees can live for nine months. Roman philosopher Pliny referred to honey as “the sweat of the heavens and the saliva of the stars”, while Medieval author and poet Chaucer was one of the first to use the phrase “busy as bees”. Without bees many plant species would not be able to reproduce, but why? If you don’t have a garden, plant a window box or hanging basket. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) declared in 2013 that they posed an “unacceptable risk” to bees, leading to temporary restrictions. Reason 1: One of the first things people think of when they consider bees is honey. Scientists at Washington University in St. Louis hope the toxin can be used in preventative gels. Trees – try hawthorn, hazel, holly and willow. The pesticide is used to treat seeds before they are planted. Work, Work, Work. Now, despite its … However, in the summer, bees will live around six weeks. They even exhibit withdrawal symptoms, helping scientists understand the nuances of addiction. The Wool-carder bee strips hair from plants to weave its nest, while the Red mason bee lives inside hollow plant stems and holes in wood. They are transmitted by direct contact as a liquid or vapor. Ask government to prevent mass extinction and protect our animals and the environment. No. We already know enough to do something to help, even if some issues might need more research to be fully understood. Others use hollow stems or holes in wood. Below, we list 27 weird and awesome facts about bees to get you more acquainted with this awesome creature. Discover different species in our Bee Identification Guide. In the chilly months, bees can live up to nine months. Scientists at Arizona State University believe the discovery can help us slow the onset of dementia. A wise man once said “If the bee disappeared off the face of the earth, man would only have four years left to live” – a line usually attributed to Einstein even though it was actually proclaimed by Maurice Maeterlinck, a Belgium-based Nobel Prize winner. On a cool morning I’ve noticed bumble bees asleep inside a squash blossom, underneath a flower, or generally looking lazy. Bees are crucial in the countryside but they’re essential in the city too. Choose flowers with pollen that bees can get at easily – single-flower varieties for example. It’s called "configural processing," and it might help computer scientists improve face recognition technology, The New York Times reports. There are more than 200 species of solitary bee in the UK that need individual nests. Why Are Bees Important to Your Health? Researchers at the University of Illinois found that not all bees are interchangeable drones. When aging bees do jobs usually reserved for younger members, their brain stops aging. We want the UK government to keep any EU restrictions on bee-harming pesticides post-Brexit. What's the shortest distance you can travel while visiting all six? These “smells” dictate what one bee needs to … As the world’s most effective pollinators, bees are responsible for nearly one in three bites of food we eat. Across society, we often undervalue nature and what it does for us. When we first got bees everyone told us to be prepared for our garden to get a huge boost. Whether you find them charming or annoying, bees are incredibly important. 1. But if you're overheating in your home, never fear! Registered office: 1st Floor, The Printworks, 139 Clapham Road, London, SW9 0HP. Bearding helps to regulate the hive’s internal temperature, and the bees beat their … The bees target the eyes, mouth, and nose; therefore, try to cover up the best you can. This can help our bees, since the staggered access to blooming flowers through the spring, summer and fall extends the periods during which they can collect nectar and pollen. Encouraging your friends and neighbours to do the same will help create bee-friendly communities. Research shows that propolis taken from a beehive may relieve cold sores, canker sores, herpes, sore throat, cavities, and even eczema. Bearding is the term used to describe how bees cluster on the front of a beehive in a shape that resembles a beard. Honeybees always travel incredible distances to look for pollen. They Pollinate Food Crops. Therefore they sit outside the hive and pick off bees one by one until they have had their fill. But there's so much more to these buzzing insects than that. The average American consumes roughly 1.51 pounds of honey each year. Pretend it's the weekend, and it's time to do errands. 1012357. Why Do Beekeepers Use Smoking Devices? Summer heat waves can be a real struggle without the refreshingly cool blast of air conditioning—major respect for humankind before the invention of central air! Planting flowers rich in nectar will really help bees find the food they need. Scout bees, which search for new sources of food, are wired for adventure. hey, guys thanks for all the support. Honeybees make out faces the same way we do. Lots of ornamental flowers have been bred to contain no nectar – they might look good but do little for wildlife. Some species tunnel into the ground, sandy banks or crumbling mortar. Attractive ornamentals – try achillea, allium, angelica, echinacea, foxglove and verbena. Bees use the Sun as a compass. Fact #2 Soldier bees, discovered in 2012, work as security guards their whole life. Bees communicate through Pheromones which affect the behavior of the same species. Fruit and vegetables – try strawberries, tomatoes and beans. Low growers – try crocus, bluebell, snowdrop and nasturtium. To let you know I have a discord the link is https://discord.gg/uPDpazc. Not only are some wasps indispensable pollinators, but it’s estimated that there are “over a hundred thousand described species around the world” and they “eat their way through millions of kilograms of insects each year.” Incorporated in England and Wales. In fact, their brain ages in reverse. Bees don’t just make honey, an incredible substance in itself.They also pollinate hundreds of fruit and vegetable plants, including those that produce cranberries, melons, broccoli, blueberries, and almonds, according to … Together we can ban bee-harming pesticides for good so bees can thrive. Our politicians need to understand the importance of protecting the natural world – including bees. University of Sao Paulo researchers found that the venom of bees can increase glucocorticoid in the body which is an anti-inflammatory hormone. Choosing local, British honey will lend your support to our honey bees and their beekeepers. Everyone knows honey is really sweet and is good to spread on toast, but here are some facts not as many people know. Some bees are thrill-seekers. While caffeine makes bees work better, cocaine turns them into big fat liars. There are more reasons to cherish honey bees than to kill them or inhibit their activities using chemicals. And not only are honeycombs the most efficient structures in nature—the walls meet at a precise 120-degree angle, a perfect hexagon. 10. Skunks for example love to bring their families to the hives at night during the summer when the bees cool their hives by bearding. A world without bees could struggle to sustain the global human population of 7.8 billion. Follow. Plant a range of flowers in your garden so bees have access to nectar from March to October. Serial killers behave like bees. Referred to as ‘colony collapse disorder’, billions of honey bees across the world are leaving their hives, never to return. By making things like this available it’s easy to create ideal accommodation for solitary bees. In a world without bees, our food would cost a lot more to produce and our economy would suffer. (Imagine if riding a tricycle didn't just make you feel young—it actually made your brain tick like a younger person's.) Bees detect these pheromones through their sense of smell. Solitary bees tend to be smaller and their family unit is made up of a single pair. In 36 BCE, Marcus Terentius Varro argued that honeycombs were the most practical structures around. As the plant grows, the pesticide travels though it to the flowers and pollen. I saved a bee today. Continue reading to find out more information about bees. So why am I messing with mason bees in the midst of a million honey bees? A wild window box in the middle of the urban jungle has great value. 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