This text was initially revealed in Backyard Tradition Journal US 26 & UK 28.
Bees assist fertilize as much as 90% of the earth’s main meals crops, together with what you probably put in your plate every single day. These hard-working bugs are affected by many pressures globally together with chemical herbicides, viruses, mites, genetically modified crops, and harsh climate situations. Many city gardeners are noticing a decline in bee populations of their backyards and balconies, producing decrease yields and diminished high quality, dimension, and taste of the meals grown.
So, how will you help bee well being and survival and stop these issues? One easy step is to create a bee-friendly habitat backyard to draw honey bees and native native bees.
Bees with Advantages
The backyard wants pollinators!
Regardless of all the eye that honey bees get regarding their position in pollinating crops, it’s the native, solitary, or pollen bees that do the lion’s share of the work. There are round 19,500+ bee species on the planet, and of these, about 90% are solitary bees. They’re extremely environment friendly pollinators as a result of:
They have an inclination to remain in the identical crop feeding slightly than flying between completely different crops, growing the prospect of profitable pollination.They’re untidy pollen collectors. Whereas honey bees moist their pollen with saliva as they acquire it to make sure they’ll carry a heavy load, solitary bees are inclined to spill a whole lot of dry pollen as they fly from flower to flower. These sloppy habits work in our favor! Each the women and men share the foraging, in contrast to honey bees the place solely the ladies employee bees do ALL the meals gathering and preparation. What’s new? Nevertheless, the feminine solitary bees are much more environment friendly pollinators than males.In keeping with fascinating analysis*, feminine solitary bees have a tendency to go to extra flowers in much less time and acquire extra pollen than males. There’s a compelling purpose. As male bees head in direction of the following ‘flower pub’ for one more meal (pollen) or drink (nectar), they usually get distracted. Sound acquainted, women? That’s proper; they cease to mate with girl bees on the best way!Whereas the boys are usually not as environment friendly briefly distance pollinating, they do carry out a helpful position. They fly longer distances, growing the likelihood of cross-pollination. That is vital for seed-set in crops that aren’t self-pollinating and improves the standard of recent generations in self-fertile crops. Solitary bees additionally fly in a short time to allow them to pollinate extra crops!
Bees have three elementary wants:
Shelter. Solitary bees don’t dwell in hive properties with giant households like honey bees. They usually dwell on their very own or in small social teams. Solitary bees choose a single ‘room’ the place they elevate their younger and relaxation.Freshwater for consuming and bathing.Meals from nectar and pollen.
Insect Lodges – Construct It, And They Will Come
Even in case you solely have a balcony or small courtyard, attempt to dedicate an space to draw bees and different pollinators. Making a micro backyard for them could be so simple as planting a container with flowers with a water bathtub subsequent to it and an insect resort.
Present a Protected Sunny Spot
Study concerning the native species in your space and what nesting wants they’ve. In my backyard, Leaf Cutter Bees chew little circles in my arrowroot and rose leaves to construct their nests. Whereas I could not see them usually, these telltale clues show they’re there!
Bees choose foraging for meals in a sheltered place away from sturdy winds, heavy rain, and powerful shade. Contemplate the placement of your pots or flowering crops inside your backyard microclimate and select essentially the most favorable place if potential.
Likewise, you’ll be able to present habitat for solitary native bees with an insect resort or bee nest. Place your nesting website to face morning solar with an awning for canopy and safety to maintain their dwelling dry.
Insect accommodations present solitary bee species with a spot to have a relaxation. I observe the “construct it, and they’re going to come” idea. This imitates nature the place previous hole logs or nooks and crannies in bushes shortly turn into properties for all types of creatures.
Bee homes could be easy. Drill just a few holes in wooden offcuts and layer hole bamboo stems in a wood body. You’ll quickly have joyful tenants shifting in. Keep away from PVC or different probably poisonous supplies.
Leaving a little bit patch of soil naked may also entice solitary bees who ‘dig’ their dwelling within the floor. In keeping with environmentalist David Suzuki, “Bees that nest within the floor enhance soil high quality. Their tunneling improves soil texture, will increase water motion round roots, and mixes vitamins into the soil.”
BeeWare! Present a Chemical Free Refuge
Be sure that your flowers are chemical-d
Many retail suppliers promote ‘bee-friendly’ crops for the house backyard. Nevertheless, not often are the crops labeled to point whether or not or not they’ve been grown with chemical compounds.
The FOE US Report ‘Gardeners Beware: Bee-Poisonous Pesticides Present in “Bee-Pleasant” Crops Bought at Backyard Facilities Nationwide’ (2013) states: “Sadly, pollinator-friendly nursery crops offered to unsuspecting shoppers carry neither an inventory of pesticides used nor do they carry a warning that these pesticides may hurt pollinators. Shoppers could unwittingly be buying bee-attractive crops which were pre-treated with neonicotinoid pesticides that could be harming or killing bees and different threatened pollinators important to meals manufacturing and ecosystem well being.”
Except retail crops have an authorized natural label, it’s possible you’ll threat introducing a plant that has been grown with a systemic pesticide (neonicotinoid) that’s poisonous to bees. Ideally, develop your crops from untreated seeds in natural potting soil on your dwelling backyard.
Contemporary Water
Bees want an area, recent, dependable water supply, particularly in heat climate. Simply as we’d discover it tough to remain afloat in a deep pool whereas consuming a glass of water, bees can simply drown too! A birdbath is superb for our feathered mates, however not appropriate for bees except you make some modifications.
A shallow saucer or bowl with a lip and floating flowers or stone ‘steps’ supplies a secure touchdown zone for bees to drink and bathtub with out drowning. Be sure that your bee bathtub has a shallow finish or edge the place they’ll sit and sip.
Free meals – Plant Bee-Pleasant Flowers
This bee loves wildflowers.
Flowers and bees are made for one another. Bees assist themselves to free meals, and the flowers profit from their complimentary replica service.
What Do Bees Feed On?
Nectar (excessive in sugars and carbohydrates for power).
Pollen (provides proteins and fat).
Flowers meet each these wants. Some flowers are solely nectar producers; others additionally present pollen. I embrace flowers in each backyard mattress and most container gardens, particularly if I’m planting fruiting crops. Fruit + flowers = Comfortable harvest.
Honey bees acquire nectar from flowers as a meals supply for power. Whereas they’re foraging for nectar, additionally they collect pollen on their again legs. They carry this again to the nest to offer proteins and fat for his or her infants (brood).
Be Shade-wise with Flowers
Flowers are like colourful commercials to draw the eye of bees, providing a sugary bribe for his or her free pollination companies.
Analysis suggests bees have favourite colours and are drawn to flowers which can be richest in nectar. Bees can see UV mild and a variety of blues, violets, yellows, and greens, however not pink.
Bees love shades of purple and blue.
In keeping with Affiliate Professor, Adrian Dyer of RMIT College, “many flowers have ‘ultraviolet nectar guides’ on them. The patterns are like signposts telling bees the place to go to seek out the nectar.”
So, all the time embrace a wide range of blue, purple, violet, and yellow blooms in case you can.
Develop Aromatic Flowers
Bees are additionally drawn to very strongly patterned and closely scented flowers, usually those who have a sweet-smelling fragrance. Nasturtiums are an amazing instance, particularly when planted en masse.
Goal for Steady Flowering all Yr
Select native native kinds of crops (edible and decorative) that stagger flowering all year long, so you’ve got a meals supply for bees year-round. Lengthy-flowering species which can be stuffed with nectar and pollen will encourage bees to hold round for longer than short-lived annuals.
Ideas for the Greatest Flowers to Entice Bees
Select conventional flower varieties, notably these with single flowers (the place you’ll be able to see the stamens). These flowers are inclined to have extra nectar than fashionable hybrids. Most bees choose shallow and tubular flowers which have a ‘touchdown platform.’ Should you’re unsure what to purchase when you’re at your native nursery, observe which flowers the bees are visiting. They don’t waste time or power on in search of meals at ‘empty flower shops.Embrace a various vary of flower shapes, colours, and sizes. Completely different bee species range in how lengthy their tongues are, to allow them to feed on a variety of flowers.Sow flowers and crops of the identical kind in small teams. This not solely seems fairly but in addition helps enhance pollination effectivity. If a bee can go to the identical type of flower time and again in a single place (e.g. in a pot or backyard mattress), it takes much less power and energy to relearn enter that type of flower. It might simply transfer from one flower to the following of the identical species (e.g. pumpkins), transferring pollen because it feeds. This will increase the probabilities for profitable pollination, slightly than losing the pollen collected on unreceptive flowers of various species.A cottage backyard or decorative kitchen backyard are bee-friendly designs as a result of they embrace many flowers, flowering herbs, and greens. Borders and clumps of flowering herbs and colourful blooms make it fast and simple for bees to find nectar and pollen. They don’t should fly as far, so that you’re serving to them preserve their power and collect extra meals to return to their nest.Throughout a median assortment journey, a honey bee visits 50-100 flowers. Should you don’t have this many flowers in your backyard, bees are probably flying subsequent door to complete ‘procuring’ for meals.
Favourite Flowers and Herbs for Bees
Nasturtiums
Coneflower 
Zinnias
The next is only a temporary listing of some flowering crops bees love you could embrace in your backyard.
Flowers: Candy alyssum, marigolds, sunflowers, dianthus, cosmos, poppies, zinnias, salvias, and lavender.
Flowering Herbs: Oregano, nasturtium, all sages however particularly pineapple sage, all basils, thyme, lavender, dill, comfrey, garlic chives, catmint, coriander/cilantro, all mints, lemon balm, rosemary, verbena, borage, yarrow, parsley, and fennel.
So, in case you present ‘mattress and board’ with a free meal of nectar and pollen thrown in, you’ll be able to simply create a bee-friendly backyard. In case your area is minimal, take the following tips and downscale to pots. We will all help our native bee populations!
Sources:
* ‘Foraging by Male and Feminine Solitary Bees with Implications for Pollination’ – G. Ne’eman, O. Shavit, L.
Shaltiel and A. Shmida, 2006. Journal of Insect Habits 19(three): 383-401
Anne Gibson
Anne Gibson, The Micro Gardener, is a speaker, writer and concrete backyard group educator on the Sunshine Coast, in Queensland, Australia. Anne is enthusiastic about inspiring folks to enhance well being and wellbeing, by rising nutrient-dense meals gardens in artistic containers and small areas. Anne usually presents workshops, speaks at sustainable residing occasions, coaches personal purchasers and teaches group training courses about natural gardening and methods to dwell sustainably. She has authored a number of eBooks and gardening guides. Anne shares natural gardening ideas and tutorials to avoid wasting time, cash and power on her standard web site @ themicrogardener.com.
