Today, as we celebrate Earth Day, we celebrate the honeybee (scientific name Apis mellifera). These little creatures are hugely important to helping our environment thrive. Beth, our Office Manager recently added a beehive to her beautiful gardens so we thought we would share with you some of the interesting buzz we have learned. 

• Honeybees are native to Africa, the Middle East, and Southern Europe. They have become naturalized in ecosystems around the world because of intentional transport by humans. 
•  Honeybees are the world’s most important single species of pollinator in natural ecosystems and a key contributor to natural ecosystem functions.  
•  Almost 90% of plant species rely on pollinators to reproduce. According to the USDA, this means bees are responsible for one out of every three bites of food we eat. 
• Their role as pollinators is vital in the growth of tropical forests, savannah woodlands, and temperate deciduous forests. Many tree species found throughout New England, such as maples, willows, poplars, and fruit trees, could not grow without pollinators. 
•  Your own garden serves as a home for hundreds of tiny creatures, from birds and squirrels to thousands of tiny insects. If bees disappeared, the animals that depend on these plants for survival would vanish as well. 
• It is not just farm-grown fruits and vegetables that rely on pollinators to thrive. Many species of wild plants depend on insect pollinators as well. Bees are responsible for the production of many seeds, nuts, berries, and fruit, which serve as a vital food source for wild animals. 
•  Honeybees also produce honey. Honey, of course, is the most well-known and economically important beehive product. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agriculture Statistics Service, honeybees made 157 million pounds of honey in 2019. With the cost of honey at $1.97 per pound, that is a value of a little over $339 million. 
• In addition to honey, they produce other products including beeswax, royal jelly, propolis, and venom, all of which are collected and used by people for various nutritional and medicinal purposes. 

 The honeybee population is in decline. In the winter of 2018 to 2019 alone, the population decreased 40%, the loss continued for the 2019 to 2020 winter with another 40% decrease. These declines are unsustainable. So, what can we do help preserve bees and their pollinators: 

• Plant nectar-bearing flowers such as marigolds, sunflowers, hydrangeas, pumpkins, fruit bearing trees, to name a few. 
• Buy honey and other hive products from your nearest local beekeeper. 
• Preserve old meadows, which feature a more diverse array of flowers. 
• Use pesticides that do not harm bees, and spray them in windless weather, either early in the morning or late at night when bees withdraw from blossoms. 
• Spread the word – raise awareness with others on the importance of bees and the support of beekeepers.