Free the weeds

The Opportunist

Honeybees are truly opportunists and will feed on nectar and collect pollen from most flowering plants whether they are native, introduced, or noxious weed species. Allowing a "wild" section to freely grow on your property is actually some help to the bees! Species like clover, oxalis, onion weed, and dandelion are all weed species that pop up when not kept in check but truly do provide a respite for our pollinators as they journey across the landscape (we call this pollinator pathways!). Even plants like Agapanthus, the showy and hearty blue flowers that New Zealanders love to hate, provide food for our honeybees and bumblebees! So don't stress if you've missed some mowing and weed pulling this spring and summer, the bees will thank you.

Let the weeds grow free

Speaking of letting the weeds bee free, it's time to ditch the herbicide or reduce use to minimise negative pollinator impacts (if you haven't already). Glyphosate is one of the world's most widely used herbicides. It is utilised to combat weeds in agriculture, townships and cities, roadsides, home gardens and even conservation areas. It was once thought to be harmless to animals as Glyphosate kills plants by blocking an enzyme they use to make several key amino acids, the building blocks of proteins, and animals don't produce this enzyme, though it is used by some bacteria.

Upon closer inspection via numerous scientific studies, glyphosate has been found to gravely affect our social pollinators, especially honeybees and bumble bees.

Firstly, herbicides like Glyphosate kill the weeds that can otherwise provide a respite of nectar and pollen- as shared above. Removing all weed species from an agricultural landscape also decreases the soil water retention, soil microbial diversity, and diminishes soil root structures, among other negative outcomes.

So how do herbicides affect bees?

Glyphosate disrupts the gut microbiome of bees, making them more susceptible to pests and diseases. It disrupts the development of brood (bee eggs, larvae, and pupae), leading to delayed development and reduced weight.

It also negatively affects the thermoregulation, reproduction, and foraging and navigation skills, which in turn affects the bees nervous system, elemental learning, and short term memory retention.

Herbicides and pesticides are often lipid-soluble and stored for long periods of time in the fats of the hives (the pollen and wax). These can build up and interact with one another, causing a wide range of negative synergistic affects that are not yet widely studied or understood.

How to reduce impact

If spray's must be used at your property, follow these guidelines to minimise impact to our pollinators: Ensure you are firstly following all printed labels and wearing appropriate protection. Do not spray on blooming flowers or in windy conditions, and chose to spray at dusk or dawn when pollinators are not yet extremely active.

The Comvita difference

At Comvita, we have a long standing rule that no herbicides can be sprayed to manage weeds near or around our beehives. (This is unfortunately common practice in other areas of the world.) We are proud to offer honey that is truly clean, from bees that thrive in their environment, just as nature intended!