The Honey Bee and Bumblebee seem to get a lot of attention, but we should not forget about other Native Pollinators. Single representatives of the Mason bee, orchard bee, and Green Sweat Bee each do more work that an independent Honey Bee. They are not showy, and don’t makes sweet treats for us, but they keep the flowers blooming.
Earlier this week I was told by someone that the rise in keeping honey bees is actually harming other native pollinators. There are more insects looking for pollen and nectar, but a fixed number of flowers. I would never discourage someone from urban bee keeping, but all fads have consequences. Hopefully people continue growing more plants and trees with flowers. I also hope they stop spraying them with insecticides. Biodiversity is a good thing.
I love looking at these small helpers with the kids. Most don’t sting. That is a plus. They also tend to dig into a flower and let little eyes get a close look. This is also a plus. My kids “sneak” like a train coming down the track, and we are happy to share our flowers with these hungry locals.
