Bees
As specialised pollinators, bees co-evolved with flowers more than 100 million years ago. Now the most numerous and widespread of the pollinators, bees live on every continent except for Antarctica and are a critical part of the Earth's complex ecosystem.
Approximately 50% of bee species are social, living in colonies with complex social structures. Humans have taken advantage of this and have domesticated several bees species. Known as honey bees these bees are used primarily for pollination services. The most common of these is the european honey bee.
Farmed in hives honey bees produce honey, more than 1.5 million tonnes annually, and are used to pollinate crops. Bees are now responsible for the pollination of a significant proportion of the worlds crops. It is fair to say that while bees are not depend on humans, humans are dependent on bees.
In recent years honeybee populations have dropped significantly across the globe. The exact reasons are unclear but the phenomenon is know as Colony Collapse Disorder.
As a consequence of their importance to humans, they have spread across the planet. In many regions this has caused problems for native bee species.
Approximately 50% of bee species are social, living in colonies with complex social structures. Humans have taken advantage of this and have domesticated several bees species. Known as honey bees these bees are used primarily for pollination services. The most common of these is the european honey bee.
Farmed in hives honey bees produce honey, more than 1.5 million tonnes annually, and are used to pollinate crops. Bees are now responsible for the pollination of a significant proportion of the worlds crops. It is fair to say that while bees are not depend on humans, humans are dependent on bees.
In recent years honeybee populations have dropped significantly across the globe. The exact reasons are unclear but the phenomenon is know as Colony Collapse Disorder.
As a consequence of their importance to humans, they have spread across the planet. In many regions this has caused problems for native bee species.
“Human beings have fabricated the illusion that in the 21st century they have the technological prowess to be independent of nature. Bees underline the reality that we are more, not less, dependent on nature’s services in a world of close to 7 billion people” |
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