Despite their small size, insects are considered to cover a significant part of Earth’s living biomass. Among one million species of them, bees are one of the most important keystone species that maintain the ecosystem by pollinating 80% of flowering plants and crops that provide 90% of the world’s food [1].
The importance of bees in pollination, which is a crucial process in reproduction, is already recognized. Additionally, bee pollination enhances the nutritional value of fruits and vegetables, while also improving their quality and extending their shelf life. This not only improves the quality of food but also could potentially reduce food waste [2]. For agriculture, pollination increases the amount of production and enhances the plants’ resistance to pests [3].
Regardless of bees’ importance in ecosystems, unfortunately, the population of bees is declining alarmingly, threatening the environment. For instance, losses of honeybee colonies have been 40-50% annually [4]. There are numerous causes of bee decline, mainly because of human activities.
The increased atmospheric temperature, because of climate change, stresses the flowering plants. Due to the rise of temperature, plants sense threats, releasing defensive chemical compounds that change their scents. This makes the bees more difficult to pollinate as they are attracted to flowers through olfactory cues [5]. Extreme temperatures also change the timing and availability of flowers blooming, causing mismatches between them and bees.
In addition, pesticides are also the main threat of bees. Even though pesticides have benefits when used appropriately, they also have detrimental effects on bees. For example, neonicotinoids, one of the main insecticides, target the central nervous system of insects. While neonicotinoids are applied as seed treatments, it spreads through the plant tissues, to the pollen, eventually reaching the bees. Chronic exposure leads to the deaths of the bees [6].
If the decline of bees continues, it directly impacts human food security. This lack of pollination of bees results in fewer agricultural yields and varieties of fruit and vegetables. And with the loss of diversity, there is always a ripple effect. Fewer plants indicate fewer foods for animals, not only humans, eventually affecting the whole food chain and leading to biodiversity loss [7].
Understanding the consequences of the extinction of bees, they must be protected. Making a slight change to daily activities can contribute to the protection of bees:
First, plating flowers and plants is one of the most helpful ways to foster pollination. Some flowers or plants that attract bees include Azalea, Bee Balms, and Goldenrods [7]. During the process, the most important thing is not to use pesticides, fungicides, and herbicides to ensure a safe environment for bees.
Second, people should buy organic foods, which are produced without pesticides. This will encourage the farmers to avoid the use of harmful chemicals that can kill bees. Additionally, buying honey from local beekeepers contributes to their farms and themselves, which supports bees' population and biodiversity around the area.
Most importantly, raising awareness of society in the current situation is needed. With more attention to the problems, it encourages better actions and policies that protect bees and the environment. A strong example of this was seen in Slovenia. Not only do we celebrate World Bee Day every year, but the usage of neonicotinoids and pesticides, especially harmful to bees, was also banned. This resulted into increased number of bees in Slovenia [8].
World Bee Day, which is celebrated on May 20th every year, is a perfect day to raise awareness of the roles that bees play in our ecosystem and highlight their importance. Taking simple actions in daily life to support the protection of bees will ensure a more sustainable ecosystem for bees, allowing the environment to thrive.