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Save the Bees! Why Pollinators Matter + Bee Fun Facts

spencer655
4 days ago
3 min read

Why are bees important?

Bees are more than just buzzing insects—they are essential workers in our environment. Bees pollinate about one-third of the food we eat, including fruits, vegetables, and nuts. Without bees, grocery stores would look a lot emptier!

“Some scientists estimate that one out of every three bites of food we eat exists because of animal pollinators like bees.”

This means bees help grow apples, strawberries, almonds, and even chocolate!

Why should we save the bees?

Bee populations are declining due to habitat loss, pesticides, and disease. If bees disappear, many plants (and the animals that eat them) would struggle to survive. Saving bees helps protect our food supply and keeps ecosystems healthy.

“Protecting pollinator habitat and cutting back on the use of bee-killing pesticides can help save bees of all stripes.”

Why are pollinators important?

Pollinators include bees, butterflies, moths, birds, and bats. They move pollen from flower to flower, helping plants make seeds and fruit. This process is called pollination.

Pollinators support biodiversity by helping wild plants grow.
They keep gardens, farms, and natural habitats thriving.
Many animals rely on pollinated plants for food and shelter.

How to save bees from dying

You don’t need to be a scientist to help bees! Here are some easy ways anyone can make a difference:

Plant bee-friendly flowers like lavender, sunflowers, and wildflowers.
Avoid using pesticides and herbicides in your yard or garden.
Leave some areas of your yard a little “wild” for bees to nest.
Provide a shallow dish of water with pebbles for bees to drink.
Support local beekeepers by buying local honey.

“Even a small flower garden or window box can become a bee buffet!”

List of pollinators

Bees aren’t the only pollinators. Here are some others that help plants grow:

Butterflies
Moths
Wasps
Flies
Beetles
Hummingbirds
Bats

Each pollinator has a special role in nature’s food web.

Are honey bees harmful to the environment?

Honey bees are important, but they aren’t the only bees that matter. In some places, too many managed honey bee hives can compete with wild bees for food. Wild bees and other native pollinators are just as important—and sometimes even better at pollinating certain plants.

“Saving the bees is about helping all pollinators, not just honey bees.”

Fun Facts About Bees, Beekeeping, and Pollinators

There are over 20,000 species of bees worldwide.
Some bats pollinate tropical fruits like bananas and mangoes.
Without pollinators, foods like blueberries, cucumbers, and pumpkins would be rare treats.
A single bee can visit up to 5,000 flowers in one day!
Honey never spoils—pots of edible honey have been found in ancient Egyptian tombs.
Bees communicate by dancing! The “waggle dance” tells other bees where to find flowers.
Queen bees can live up to 5 years and lay 2,000 eggs per day.
Most bees don’t make honey—only 7 out of 20,000+ bee species do.
Beekeeping (also called apiculture) has been practiced for thousands of years—in ancient Greece, China, and Egypt.
Bees keep their hives at a constant temperature of about 95°F (35°C), even in cold weather.
Beekeepers wear white suits because bees are less aggressive toward light colors.
Beeswax, made by worker bees, is used in candles, lip balm, and even chewing gum!