Today the world is celebrating “Bee Day” to emphasize the importance of Bees in the world’s as a commercial pollinator in our agriculture and horticulture sectors along its critical role of producing honey which is a great source of natural food with immense health benefits.
Celebrating the day is also a way to raise awareness of the threats facing bee populations all over the world and to learn more about the important role Bees play and how we can help bees and support bee health.
Some Amazing Bee facts:
-Scientific study shows that bees have been producing honey for at least 150 million years.
-Bees use their antennae to smell. They can detect nectar 2km away.
-On one flight from the hive to collect honey, a honey bee will visit between 50 and 100 flowers.
-To produce one Kilo Gram of honey a bee must visit about four million flowers.
-One beehive of honey bees can produce up to 150kg of honey per year.
– Worker bees produce about 1/12th of a teaspoon of honey in their lifetimes.
Why United Nations declared 20th May World Bee Day?
20 May coincides with the birthday of Anton Janša, who in the 18th century pioneered modern beekeeping techniques in his native Slovenia and praised the bees for their ability to work so hard, while needing so little attention.
Threats to Bees as per United Nations Report:
The UN reports that Bees and other pollinators, such as butterflies, bats and hummingbirds, are increasingly under threat from human activities.
Pollinators allow many plants, including many food crops, to reproduce. Not only do pollinators contribute directly to food security, but they are key to conserving biodiversity – a cornerstone of the Sustainable Development Goals. They also serve as sentinels for emergent environmental risks, signaling the health of local ecosystems.
Invasive insects, pesticides, land-use change and monocropping practices may reduce available nutrients and pose threats to bee colonies.
Link to United Nation’s Food and Agriculture Organization report on “Why Bees Matter”.