The bee population is in serious decline. Two species of bumblebee have become extinct in the UK since the start of the 21st century.

Bees help plants to reproduce by pollinating them. A decrease in bees means that people will have to pollinate food crops, such as apples and tomatoes, by hand which will increase the cost of fruit.

Also, bees help pollinate wildflowers which provide food for other wildlife such as other insects, birds and mammals. Their populations could also be affected.

 

Scientists have come up with three main reasons for the reduction in bee population: the decline in flower rich habitat, the spread of bee diseases, and some argue the use of pesticides.

Habitat

Bees need large areas of flower-rich habitat to collect nectar but in the UK we have lost 97% of our ancient wild flower meadows. This is mainly because it has been converted into land suitable for farming.

Bee diseases

Varroa desctructor is a parasitic mite that sucks bee blood. When the European honeybee was taken to South East Asia it picked up this parasite which normally infects local bees. The mite has since spread around the world, killing infected bees. It was first detected in Britain in 1992 and can kill entire colonies within two to three years. Pesticides that were used to kill it are becoming less affective as the mite becomes resistant.

Bees are also at risk from other diseases caused by bacteria, fungi and viruses.

Pesticides

Pesticides are chemicals used by farmers and gardeners to control pests. Insecticides are a type of pesticide used to control insect pests such as aphids which kill plants. There is scientific evidence that some insecticides can also harm beneficial insects like bees especially systemic insecticides which can get into the plant sap, nectar and pollen. However, other research has shown that there is no risk to bees if the chemicals are used correctly. To reduce the risk, it is now illegal in Europe for amateur gardeners to use systemic pesticides.

You can do a few simple things to help bees: plant some more flowers in your garden, don’t use pesticides and support beekeepers by buying local honey.

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By Gemma Young for Smart Learning