All about the Bees

September is Bee Awareness Month in NZ, so we will be bringing you some amazing facts about not only honeybees but also some of our other incredible pollinators and ways you can help them to thrive in your community!

First, we want to share with you why honeybees are particularly special pollinators and what sets them apart from other bees. Next, we are going to highlight nz native bees, bumble bees and then touch on the other pollinators in your neighborhoods and what trees and seeds are best to plant to keep them thriving."

What is our fascination with honeybees and why do we feel a connection to them?

These mysterious and enigmatic creatures have been evolving for over 100 million years alongside flowering plants, a history much longer than our own. Their survival and ability to adapt is directly related to their power to work together and make decisions as a superorganism. Honeybees live in complex social societies that in many ways mirror our own multifaceted and deeply engrained sociality, and one that we have so very much to learn from. Our fates are inextricably intertwined. The thriving of this beautiful creature allows us to thrive, and the loss of bees will gravely affect us. There is a deep reciprocal relationship to nurture here; one that puts biodiversity, bee welfare, and a deep respect for this organism at the heart of our work.

Social Insects

Honeybees are one of the best examples of social insects. They live in a matriarchal (female led) society that is comprised of more than 50,000 individual bees that all work together in harmony towards the survival of the whole. There are constantly new generations of bees being born into the hive, and each bee has a specific and purposeful role to play so that the hive can function smoothly. Bees graduate through various jobs throughout their short 5–7-week lifespan and don’t operate on the concept of individuality, all work contributes toward the survival of the hive for many generations to come.

Loyal pollinators

One of the primary things that sets European honeybees apart from other bees and pollinators is that they are loyal pollinators. This means that they are faithful to a productive plant species until it stops flowering. Honeybees are loyal to specific locations & have incredibly precise memories for navigation. When a forager bee finds a good nectar source, she will return to the hive to recruit her sisters to join her in returning to the chosen food source by dancing a precise map on the comb and sharing a sample of the nectar!

More work can be completed when they work together towards a common goal. This continuity has enormous advantages, as it ensures that pollen is deposited within the same plant species, which allows for very effective and consistent pollination of our food.

Honey bees stand as remarkable and indispensable creatures with a profound impact on both the natural world and human society. The conservation of honey bees not only ensures the stability of ecosystems but also underscores the interconnectedness of nature and the delicate balance that sustains life here on Earth.