Honey bees are amazing insects that have a lot of impact on humans. They are hardworking creatures that underpin the sustenance of life in this planet earth. However, people have increasingly predisposed them to unfavorable environments, leading to massive deaths. A few years ago, over 40 percent of bee colonies in the US were lost due to deaths. There are more reasons to cherish honey bees than to kill them or inhibit their activities using chemicals. Here are the top five reasons why they are so important to us.
They Pollinate Food Crops
Honeybees always travel incredible distances to look for pollen. It is because of these amazing journeys that fertilization takes place between food crops. As a result, we are able to enjoy many foods like cucumbers, cherries, apples, limes and lemons. All these food crops would not be there if bees disappeared. Scientists have even come up with various techniques to make better use of bee pollinators. For instance, one scientist at the Royal Saskatchewan Museum has come up with a unique technique of pollinating haskap plants using honeybees. Haskap berries have a lot of anti-oxidants and other healthy nutrients. The plants are often difficult to pollinate with other insects in a normal environment.
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They Pollinate Wild Plants
Bees not only help with food crops, but they also pollinate wild plants. We should never ignore the importance of wild plants in our lives. Wild plants are major components of biodiversity. They provide food to a wide variety of insects, birds and animals that constitute nature. Without wild plants, these key players in the ecosystem would disappear. There would be no milk, meat and other important foods we get directly from animals and birds. We would also lack enough oxygen without wild plants. It is important to keep the honey bees around so that many plants continue to exist.
They Produce Honey
All honeybees carry the nectar extracted from plants back to the hive. They mix the nectar with their saliva in a cell to produce honey. It is only bees who can produce honey for us. Honey is an important food that has immense benefits on our health. It helps prevent cancer, heart disease, gastrointestinal disorders and diabetes. Honey also reduces coughs, increases athletic performance, heals wounds and fight bacteria. Thanks to these wonderful creatures, the country produces more than 157 million pounds of honey every year.
Honey Products
There are several products that can be produced through honeybees. One of the most common products we have likely come across in the shelves is bee pollen. It is a food product that is low in calories but rich in proteins, enzymes, vitamins, beneficial carbohydrates, amino acids and bioflavonoids. It is capable of stabilizing cholesterol, rejuvenating the body, stimulating organs, accelerating the rate of recovery and strengthening capillaries. Another important product is bee wax. It is used in skin care products, candles and furniture polish.
Employment
Bee farms are major sources of employment in the US. According to the US Department of Agriculture, there are about 212,000 beekeepers in the country. These people employ at least four workers in their farms to help them manage the colonies. A considerable number of people work as honeybees pollination services providers while others are employed in organizations that deal directly with bee products, such as cosmetic, textile and candle companies. There are about 1.5 million people who benefit directly from honeybees when it comes to employment.
Honeybees might seem small and insignificant insects, but they play a huge role in food production, health and employment. It is the role of everyone to ensure we employ the best practices that can help keep honey bees alive and active.
