Did you know that bees are vital to our ecosystem?
Did you know that nearly two thirds of Australia’s agricultural production benefit from bee pollination?
And did you know that bees maintain our plant diversity, which helps to support climate regulation, air and water purification, and nutrient recycling?
20th of May is World Bee Day. It is a chance to celebrate and appreciate these tiny creatures who do so much for us.
There are over 20,000 species of bee known to man, and over 2,000 of these are native to Australia. Unfortunately, however, over the past 15 or so years, colonies of bees have been disappearing to unknown causes. In some regions, up to 90% of bees have disappeared.
World Bee Day exists to spread awareness of bees and other pollinating species. We so often see bees as a nuisance, but this day is a reason to stop and think about these helpful creatures. World Bee day brings together professionals such as beekeepers and nature conservationists with the general public to discuss and appreciate the significance of all bee species as well as encouraging actions that create more bee-friendly landscapes.
Some bee trivia to celebrate World Bee Day!
· Bees have two pairs of wings
· Bees have 6 pairs of legs!
· Honey bees live in large groups called colonies
· Honey bees fly at 25km per hour and beat their wings 200 times per second
· The queen bee lays eggs which will become an entire generation of bees. Queen bees can lay up to 2,500 eggs a day!
· The queen bee also produces chemicals that influence the behaviour of all the other bees in her hive
· Worker bees are female! It’s their job to collect pollen and nectar from flowers, build and protect the hive, plus clean and circulate the air by beating their wings. These are the bees we see out in the open – What a huge job!
· The average beehive can hold approximately 50,000 bees
· Bees carry pollen on their hind legs
· The average worker bee lives 5 – 6 days, and during their lifetime they will produce around a twelfth of a teaspoon of honey
If you would like to get involved with World Bee Day this year, head to worldbeeday.org.au. The site contains everything you need to know about the event, as well as useful resources about making your home more bee-friendly including a guide on how to build a pollination habitat garden and how to build a pollination nest - both great ideas to provide food, shelter and nesting space for bees and other insect pollinators!
Resources
https://www.natgeokids.com/au/discover/animals/insects/honey-bees/
https://www.worldbeeday.org.au/resources/