As with most insects, honeybees are dependent on nature to survive. The weather, temperature extremes, rainfall, vegetation and other factors help bees to thrive, as well as the actions of beekeepers around the world. We have long known the economic importance of bees and for this reason people have kept bees since time began. Now, however, with the natural environment threatened by pollution, urban sprawl, and other factors, it becomes necessary for human beings to step in and provide some added assistance to our little yellow and black friends, so that they can continue to do what they do best... make honey.
One of the first things that we can do is set aside a portion of park land and other undeveloped areas, allowing aging or dying trees to stand and provide shelter for wild honeybee colonies. Bees which are not part of a commercial or hobbyist swarm need a place to seek shelter, since they do not have access to man made hives. By setting aside areas, we can provide that shelter and help the bees to thrive.
Now many people will say, "But these are wild bees... What good do they do?" While it's true that they do not produce commercially useful honey, they do serve a major purpose in the ecosystem, by pollination of plants in the environment. If we plant flowering trees, shrubs or groundcover, we can provide them with the vegetation needed to do their pollination duties.
City governments can be asked to pass zoning laws that require developers to allot a certain percentage of their land to wild growth. Not only do the bees benefit by having a more natural environment, but humans as well can enjoy the beauty of the natural world, free from the artificial or commercially developed, genetically altered flowers and plants that we see so often in developed areas. After all, nature is wonderful. Let's enjoy it.
The choice flowering plants such as narcissus, rock cress, forget-me-not, dahlia, coreopsis, cosmos, black-eyed Susan, and sunflower are excellent choices for planting. These plants provide both nectar and pollen for foraging bees and besides that, they're beautiful to look at and easy to maintain.
One of the biggest dangers to bees is the indiscriminate spraying of general pesticides in yards and public areas. Instead, use pesticides only for specific problems on individual affected plants. Timing is everything in making sure your spraying doesn't affect the bees, so spray late in the day after they have returned to the hive.
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