L et’s play a quick word association game: If someone said the words, “honey bees,” what would you say? Safe bets might include words like “nuisance,” “bothersome” or “pesky.” While bees may have the potential to spoil a perfect summer day, they more than make up for it with their numerous benefits to every corner of our ecosystem. Our way of life depends on the ability of honey bees to pollinate plants and produce honey—and that includes right here at the Duquesne Club. Unfortunately, in 2022, bees face an abundance of challenges—from parasites infecting them with harmful viruses to the use of pesticides in gardens. The good news? There are many simple ways we can help
It has also been shown that honey bees can provide medicinal benefits. Honey, pollen, royal jelly and beeswax have been found to exhibit anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and antioxidant activities. These natural products may also be useful in cancer therapy, as they have been shown to inhibit tumor cell growth. A Dire Dilemma Over the past several years, bees have been dying off at an alarming rate across the globe. According to the 15th annual
nationwide survey conducted by the nonprofit Bee Informed Partnership, beekeepers across the country lost about 45% of their managed honey bee colonies from April 2020 to April 2021.
honey bees survive, so they can keep performing their essential duties for generations to come.
Contrary to popular belief,
Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD)—the phenomenon
characterized by the sudden loss of most bees in a hive—is not a primary reason why our bees are disappearing. Instead, the declining bee population is
The Bees’ Knees As one of the most efficient pollinators in the world, honey bees
attributed mostly to parasites and pests, poor nutrition and sublethal exposure to pesticides.
are crucial to creating a balanced ecosystem. Almost 90% of plant species rely on pollinators to reproduce, including everyday fruits and vegetables that contain seeds such as cucumbers, green beans and tomatoes. Each year, honey bees pollinate over 100 crops grown in North America and contribute $15 billion to the
Parasites carry diseases that are extremely harmful to honey bees. Chief among them is a mite named
Varroa Destructor, which can infect bees before they have the chance to emerge as adults. When a hive is already weakened, a Varroa infestation—which carries harmful diseases like the Deformed Wing Virus—has the ability to wipe it out. In addition, poor nutrition can leave bees with weakened immune systems, making them prone to deadly parasites and pathogens. Monoculture farming—when only one crop is grown on a piece of land—is hindering bees from forming a well- balanced diet.
U.S. economy. For example, almonds—which provide $4.8 billion to the U.S. economy each
year—rely on honey bees for the overwhelming majority of their pollination. And let’s not forget that, in addition to their agricultural and economic perks, honey bees beautify flowering plants throughout our yards and gardens.
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