Who are the most important workers (honeybees) in today's global economy? There are plenty of candidates, but one group usually gets overlooked despite its essential role in cultivating the world's food supply: Apis mellifera, better known as the honey bee. The earth has been hosting honeybees for over thirty million years, making their contributions well established in nature’s symbiotic circles of life. They pollinate at least a third of the food we eat, are highly structured, and absolutely indispensable to the world’s agriculture. Unfortunately, while they've been flying under people's radars, millions of worker bees have mysteriously gone missing. In fact, the number of honeybee colonies in the United States has dropped by 50 percent since 1979. Read below to get the latest facts about bees, where they could be going and why it's so important for humans to find out.
Honeybees group together in colonies that can contain upward of 40,000 bees. Their populations consist of a fertile female queen bee, a few fertile males and thousands of infertile female worker bees. The queen and the males spend most of their time reproducing while worker bees are responsible for all the grunt work, including building a hive out of beeswax, collecting pollen to feed the young and turning nectar into honey for the rest of the bees to feed off of. People have been keeping honeybee colonies to sell their excess honey since the beginning of recorded history, but bees have come to play an even more important role in human society over the past few centuries.
Bees and honey are certainly big business, but honeybees are also pivotal to growing agriculture in all parts of the planet. Farmers rent colonies from professional bee breeders to replenish their harvests every year. As the bees transfer pollen from plants to their hives, they drop grains that fertilize crops. Blueberries, watermelon, peaches, soy beans, broccoli, almonds, carrots and hundreds of other vegetables and fruits all depend on honeybees to reproduce at a rate fast enough to feed humans. As the number of bees has continued to dwindle, the cost of renting a colony has increased, consequently raising food prices as well.
Why the sudden decline in bee populations? Parasites such as mites can quickly wreak havoc by spreading diseases across hives, but bugs alone cannot explain the drastic drop. Many bees have been simply leaving their homes and not returning, a phenomenon scientists have termed Colony Collapse Disorder, or CCD. Several culprits have been suggested for this trend, though more research needs to be done. Among the possibilities are climate change and the rising number of cell phone signals possibly throwing off the honeybees' migration patterns. Another possibility is malnutrition due to the rise of monocultures, or farms that plant only one type of crop. If honeybees don't have access to enough variety of plants to keep them nourished and happy, they may look elsewhere for food. Scientific research has confirmed that long term exposure to some pesticides, namely neonicotinoid and pyrethroid, can impair honeybees' foraging abilities, leaving them unable to navigate their environment and feed themselves.
Aside from literally carrying the burden of pollinating the world's food supply on their backs, honeybees may have some untapped talents that could help humans. Portuguese designer Susana Soares developed a device to train bees how to sniff out cancer and other ailments. Many cancers and diseases such as tuberculosis slightly alter the odor of the patient's breath, so she trains honeybees to identify a particular scent by pumping different smells into a glass bowl and placing food in a receptacle when channeling in the desired scent to build an association. The next time a patient with cancer or another disease breaths into the bowl, the bees will rush to the receptacle, whether there is food present or not. Many illnesses are easier to treat when caught early, so these neat honeybee facts can potentially save lives.
Considering all that bees do for us, the least we can do is treat them with respect. If you're not up for becoming a beekeeper, planting flowers is an easy way to help wary worker bees keep up their energy. You can also donate a hive to local farmer or patronize a local beekeeper. Ensuring the safety of honeybees and their honey is ultimately an investment in our own survival, so become a honeybee advocate and spread the word!
Given the honeybee's crucial role in global agriculture, many scientists, environmentalists, and governments have initiated programs to protect and conserve bee populations. Some countries, particularly in Europe, have implemented bans or restrictions on the use of harmful pesticides such as neonicotinoids, which have been implicated in Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD). These efforts have demonstrated promising results, with some areas reporting stabilization or even increases in honeybee populations.
In addition to pesticide regulation, other conservation measures include planting pollinator-friendly habitats, where bees can access a wide range of flowers and plants, supporting their nutritional needs and promoting biodiversity. This is particularly important in regions dominated by monocultures, which limit the variety of pollen and nectar sources available to honeybees.
Urban beekeeping has also gained popularity in recent years, with cities across the globe encouraging rooftop gardens, urban farms, and local beekeeping initiatives. These urban environments provide a surprising haven for honeybees, where they can escape some of the pesticides and diseases prevalent in rural agricultural areas. Local governments and environmental groups often offer workshops and grants to help individuals and communities start their own hives.
One of the most significant challenges in protecting honeybees, however, is the need for a collective, global effort. Countries and industries around the world must adopt sustainable farming practices and bee-friendly policies to ensure that honeybee populations can thrive in the long term. Without coordinated action, the future of both honeybees and global food security remains uncertain.
As scientists continue to explore the intricacies of honeybee behavior and biology, several innovative projects are emerging that could revolutionize our understanding of these remarkable insects.
One area of research focuses on understanding how honeybees communicate. Bees are known for their "waggle dance," a complex form of communication in which they convey the location of food sources to other bees in the hive. Researchers have discovered that this dance is far more sophisticated than previously thought, with variations in the angle, duration, and intensity of the dance providing detailed information about distance, direction, and the quality of food sources. This insight could lead to new ways to enhance pollination efficiency, perhaps even through the development of robotic bees that can mimic the behavior of real honeybees.
Another promising avenue of research involves studying the genetic makeup of honeybees to develop bees that are more resilient to diseases and environmental stressors. Selective breeding programs are already underway, with the goal of producing honeybees that are resistant to parasites such as the Varroa mite, which has devastated colonies worldwide. In the future, genetic engineering could provide even more advanced solutions, potentially allowing scientists to create bees that can thrive in increasingly challenging environments.
The potential collapse of honeybee populations poses a serious threat to the global economy, particularly in the agricultural sector. In the United States alone, honeybees contribute an estimated $15 billion annually through their pollination services, supporting the growth of essential crops like almonds, apples, and berries. Without honeybees, many of these crops would suffer significant declines in yield, leading to higher food prices and decreased availability.
The ripple effects of a honeybee collapse would extend far beyond agriculture. The food processing, transportation, and retail industries would also face challenges as the supply of raw agricultural products dwindles. In countries where agriculture plays a central role in the economy, such as India and China, the loss of honeybees could have devastating consequences, potentially leading to food shortages, increased poverty, and widespread economic instability.
Though the threats facing honeybees may seem daunting, there are several ways individuals can contribute to their protection and preservation. Here are some actionable steps you can take:
If current trends continue, the future of honeybees—and by extension, the world’s food supply—looks grim. Some researchers warn that a world without honeybees could lead to a “pollination crisis,” where the loss of these essential insects results in widespread crop failures, food shortages, and environmental imbalances.
However, there is still hope. With increased awareness, research, and conservation efforts, it’s possible to reverse the decline in honeybee populations and secure their future. The key is taking immediate and meaningful action at every level—from individuals planting bee-friendly gardens to governments enacting policies that protect pollinators.
Honeybees are not just makers of honey; they are the lifeblood of modern agriculture, supporting the growth of the crops that feed billions of people. By understanding the challenges they face and working together to protect them, we can ensure that honeybees continue to play their vital role in the ecosystem for generations to come.
