Bees and Climate Change- How Warming Threatens Pollinators and Our Food Supply

I spy with my little eye something black and yellow.

Of course…

It’s a bee! 🐝

Ahead of World Bee Day on 20 May, this Friday Find will be about bees.

Bee basics
There are 20,000 bee species.
Some work up to 12 hours a day.
Spring and summer-born bees live around six weeks.
Autumn-born bees can live up to four to six months.
A queen bee can live between one and five years.
Bees on pollination duty are attracted to plants’ nectar.
They collect pollen after reaching the flower.
Nectar is for food, and pollen is used by the queen to lay eggs.

Did you know?
The only place without bees is Antarctica.

Power of bees
More than 75% of crops depend on pollination from bees and other pollinators.
This includes berries, apples, nuts, cauliflower, celery, peppers, and coffee.
Honeybees pollinate 80% of flowering plants.
Bees help flowers reproduce quickly.
More plants mean healthier soil, a diverse ecosystem, and strong root systems.
Bees give us honey and propolis.

Carbon sequestration
More bees mean more flowers.
Grassland flowers store carbon in deep roots.
Even fires cannot release this carbon, keeping it underground.

But climate change endangers bees
Climate change is reducing plant populations and variety.
Certain bees need specific plants, while others need a wide variety.
Fewer plant varieties mean less food for bees.
Warmer temperatures cause earlier blooming for shorter periods.
This disrupts bees’ patterns.
Climate change can spread disease and parasites like mites.
Hornets may start nesting earlier and grow larger nests.
Human activity also harms bees through logging, clearing, and burning habitats.

What is happening to help bees
Nature published a study on changing weather’s effect on honeybees.
Researchers monitor plant bloom changes and mismatches with bee behaviour.
Beekeeping training helps protect hives from weather and parasites.
Education about pollinators is the theme for this year’s World Bee Day.

What can we do?
Plant native wildflowers, even on balconies.
Create a bee-water station with a bowl, stones, and water.
Buy local raw honey.
Support bee-friendly brands.
Donate to bee projects or sponsor hives.

Bees are the mascot for pollinators, but other insects pollinate too.

…And if you want to read more about what I do in the climate space, then please do check out my services.