Bee means LIFE

Tiny and hardworking, bees are one of the most important animals for biodiversity and the human economy. So much so that the United Nations (UN) made May 20 World Bee Day, with the aim of making the world aware of the risks that the threats to these insects pose to the world.

Despite their leading position in the animal kingdom, the 25,000 species of the Hymenoptera order are threatened – largely because of human activity. Because they are sensitive organisms, they suffer from intensive agriculture, pesticides, pollution, introduction of invasive species and climate change. A hypothetical extinction of bees could lead the world to a collapse of ecosystems, with agriculture and the food chain unfeasible.

Discover 5 reasons why we cannot live without bees:

1. Food production

Bees are responsible for pollinating 90% of wild flower species and 75% of food crops, according to Embrapa. The agency conducts research to analyze the interaction between plants and pollinating insects with the aim of increasing production. One of the examples studied is açaí, a plant from the North of Brazil: among the 100 species that help pollinate it, the stingless bee is the most efficient.

2. Food chain

The importance of bees goes beyond producing food for humans. Many of the plants pollinated by it are important for the entire food chain of the animal kingdom. One example is alfalfa, one of the main foods consumed by herbivorous mammals, such as cattle. Remembering that, in jail, these animals are usually the food of carnivorous species. The extinction of bees would mean the unfeasibility of ecosystems.

3. Ecosystem health

Bees are very sensitive animals. On the other hand, your colonies are built to be long-lasting. They are complex structures, in which more than 80,000 individuals can cohabit. Thus, the presence of bee colonies is an indicator of the health of a habitat or ecosystem.

4. Beekeeping

Honey has been a food consumed by humans for over 10,000 years – its first records are at an archaeological site in Spain. Since then, the honey production and extraction activity has evolved, ranging from the domestication of bees to obtaining by-products, such as propolis, pollen and wax. In 2020, New Zealand was the world’s largest producer of honey, with 16.88% of the total. Brazil occupied the sixth position, with 4.92%.

5. Economy

Bees play a key role in the planet’s economy. Firstly, for its leading role in the agroindustry. The targeted use of certain species can make plantations more efficient – hence the importance of research, such as those carried out by Embrapa. As for beekeeping, it represents the livelihood of thousands of families around the world, since the activity is predominantly carried out on small properties. To get an idea, in 2020, Brazil exported almost US$ 100 million in honey.

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Did you know …

Did you know that one of the first coins in the world had the symbol of a bee?

Did you know that there are live enzymes in honey?

Did you know that in contact with a metal spoon these enzymes die? The best way to eat honey is with a wooden spoon, if you can’t find it, use a plastic one.

Did you know that honey contains a substance that helps the brain work better?

Did you know that honey is one of the rare foods on earth that is the only one that can sustain human life?

Did you know that bees saved the people of Africa from starvation?

Is a tablespoon of honey enough to sustain human life for 24 hours?

Did you know that propolis produced by bees is one of the most powerful natural ANTIBIOTICS?

Did you know that honey has no expiration date?

Did you know that the bodies of the world’s great emperors were buried in golden coffins and then covered with honey to prevent putrefaction?

Did you know that the term ′′ HONEYMOON ′′ comes from the fact that grooms consume honey for fertility after marriage?

Did you know that a bee lives less than 40 days, visits at least 1000 flowers and produces less than a teaspoon of honey, but for her it is a lifetime.

Thank you BEES!