Bees are velvety, pollen-strewn marbles of the insect world. They flit from blossom to flower, searching for nectar and pollen, as you could find in your backyard or an apple orchard. Bees receive pollen as a reward for their work of pollinating flowers. Bees and other pollinators are essential to the reproduction and growth of many plants. Therefore this symbiotic interaction is mutually beneficial.
Bees fertilize many crops
Bees play an important role in fertilizing a wide range of crops. Bee pollination services are estimated to be worth billions of dollars for farmers. For most of the world’s food crops, insects and mammals play an important role in pollination. Nearly seventy different types of crops in the United Kingdom are pollinated only by bees.
Farmers cherish pollination by honey bees, bumblebees, and other wild bees. If wild bees were wiped out, the cost of manually pollinating UK crops would rise to £1.8 billion a year. Farmers and producers in China, where natural pollinators have dwindled, must manually pollinate their trees and crops, which is time-consuming and expensive.
Is it possible to equal the bees’ output by hand pollinating in the United Kingdom? Honey bees used to pollinate the UK at a rate of 70%, but that has dropped to 34% now. Hoverflies and bumblebees have stepped in to fill the void.
The thought of a food system without bees is unsettling. Still, suppose we don’t stop using dangerous pesticides and take steps to minimize varroa mite infestations. In that case, that is exactly what we will have to deal with.
However, some bumblebee and solitary bee species still flourish despite the loss. Bees that can collect pollen from various sources are the most common.
Benefits
The quality of its honey determines a bee’s worth. The most often used sweetener is honey. Bees’ honey stomachs are filled with nectar and honeydew. Honeycomb harvest is processed and dried by bees in the hive. When the water content is less than 18 percent, honey can be gathered four times a year.
Honey is harvested using a honey extractor. In the first step, the frames of honeycombs are cleaned of wax and placed in a honey extractor. The centrifugal force of the honey extractor removes honey without destroying cells. Beekeepers put honeycombs back in the hive after they’ve been harvested. Wax and propolis are removed from the honey by multiple filtration processes after it is collected in a container from the extractor (bee glue). The honey is stored in containers a few days later, allowing bubbles and wax to form on the surface.
Benefits of Bee Colonies for Health
Several cosmetics and pharmaceuticals contain bee wax. Honeybee glands produce it. The wax used by bees in their honeycombs is a natural resource. Impurities are removed from honey by melting old honeycombs. Afterward, the wax is molded into new wax walls and reintroduced to the colonies or reused. Candles and other products may be made from beeswax. All the wax in a beehive is needed to make one candle. Light from beeswax candles is softer and more pleasant smelling.
Pollen
Pollen is also for sale. Bees collect pollen from flowers, mix it with nectar, and bring it back to the hive. Every year, a bee colony gathers 30 to 60 kilograms of pollen. For beekeepers, a pollen trap is a need. Adding pollen to your diet is a good idea. Pollen contains a variety of nutrients, including protein and many vitamins. Immunity and memory are boosted as a result of its use.
Bee Glue
Glue made by bees is an additional essential byproduct of the hive industry. Bees use tree resin to seal their hives and guard against pathogens and fungus. Each year, a bee colony may gather 50 to 500g of resin. Some medications contain propolis. A natural antibiotic decreases inflammation and enhances the body’s ability to fight infection. Capsules, ointment, cream, and herbal drinks contain the active ingredient.
Royal Jelly
Royal jelly is the greatest product made by bees. Honey, pollen, and glandular secretions are the main ingredients in the diet of young worker bees. Access to royal jelly extends the queen bee’s longevity by 50%. Symbolic of vitality, performance, and vigor are the queen bees themselves, or queen hives. The use of royal jelly in both cosmetics and medicine is widespread. It’s an antiviral and energizing herbal remedy.