But honey bees are not.
2 Likes
I have been a citizen scientist volunteer for the Pacific Northwest Bumblebee Atlas since 2018. I have gently collected, photographed and released almost 300 bumblebees. Only 3 of them died in the process.
The most important resource for bumblebees is flowers which bloom throughout the season. Bumblebees have a fuzzy coat which enable them to emerge earlier than other bees. Winter-blooming heather, lungworts and andromeda feed these bees in March and April. A skillful gardener will plant flowers which bloom in sequence until autumn.
The typical bumblebee nest contains only 300 bumblebees as opposed to 30,000 for the typical honey bee hive. Only people who want to harvest honey should keep honey bees since they compete with native bees. Everyone else should provide habitat for native bees.
Wendy
10 Likes
I wonder what percentage of honey bee keepers do it just to do it v. for harvesting honey?
Pete
The problem with commercial honey bee hive collapse syndrome was very well-publicized. I’m sure that many hobbyist honeybee keepers are sure that they are helping the ecosystem by pollination services. Many may be unaware that their domesticated bees are actually harming the natural ecosystem of native bees.
Wendy
2 Likes
I think that’s probably right, although anecdotally speaking, I know quite a few beekeepers in my area (there is actually a “club”, a how-to group basically) that do both. They are aware that bees need various flora and work to cultivate these along with their honey interests.
Pete
5 Likes