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(StatePoint)
May
20
is
World
Bee
Day,
an
opportunity
to
celebrate
not
only
the
beloved
honey
bee,
but
North
America’s
4,000
species
of
native
bees,
many
of
which
are
busy
right
now.
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“Throughout
spring
and
summer,
these
insects
dutifully
pollinate
crops
and
wildflowers,
playing
a
vital
role
in
fostering
healthy
ecosystems,”
says
Clay
Bolt,
manager
of
Pollinator
Conservation
and
Great
Plains
communications,
World
Wildlife
Fund.
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According
to
Bolt,
native
bee
species
are
beautifully
varied
in
their
appearance,
behaviors,
feeding
habits
and
habitats.
They
can
be
striped,
metallic,
fuzzy,
thin
and
rotund,
in
a
spectrum
of
colors.
The
world’s
smallest
species—the
Euphorb
mini-fairy
bee—is
only
found
in
southern
deserts.
At
2
millimeters,
it
is
about
as
long
as
a
U.S.
nickel
is
thick.
Different
bee
species
fly
at
different
times—early
morning,
daytime
or
night.
Many
emerge
seasonally
in
spring
or
summer,
while
others
remain
hidden
underground
for
years
awaiting
summer
monsoons.
Bees
inhabit
diverse
environments,
from
cold
mountain
peaks
to
beaches.
Generalist
species
visit
many
flower
types,
while
specialists
pollinate
only
specific
flowers.
And
unlike
bumble
bees
and
other
hive-dwelling
bee
species,
such
as
honey
bees
and
stingless
bees,
over
70%
of
the
world’s
bee
species
are
in
fact
solitary,
hardworking
moms
who
quietly
nest
in
overlooked
places
like
decomposing
logs
and
alongside
garden
paths.
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If
you’ve
ever
asked
yourself,
“what
is
a
bee?”
you
might
be
surprised
to
learn
that
they
are
vegetarian
wasps.
However,
unlike
their
wasp
relatives,
which
often
feed
their
young
protein
in
the
form
of
paralyzed
insects
and
the
hamburger
they
might
steal
from
your
picnic
table,
most
bees
provide
their
offspring
with
protein
made
from
pollen
mixed
with
nectar.
The
mother
bee
compacts
these
materials
into
a
pellet
and
places
it
within
her
nest
cavity,
lays
a
single
egg
atop
the
mixture,
then
seals
the
chamber
where
the
young
bee
will
develop
entirely
without
maternal
assistance.
How
can
you
help
bees?
Sadly,
bees
face
threats
to
their
survival,
but
there
are
steps
you
can
take
to
help
protect
them.
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Bees
need
healthy,
pesticide-free
foods
throughout
their
lives.
This
is
one
of
the
greatest
gifts
you
can
offer
these
pollinators,
especially
because
parks
and
gardens
often
grow
flowers
that
only
bloom
during
peak
summer.
By
planting
a
variety
of
plants
that
flower
from
early
spring
through
autumn,
the
number
of
native
bees
and
other
pollinators
visiting
your
garden
will
increase
exponentially.
“Through
small
acts
of
kindness,
you
can
transform
the
lives
of
these
remarkable
creatures,
while
filling
your
heart
with
profound
hope
and
wonder
as
you
witness
their
delicate
yet
ongoing
care
of
our
shared
world,”
says
Bolt.
World
Bee
Day
also
kicks
off
World
Wildlife
Fund’s
new
“Stories
of
Hope
and
Wonder,”
an
ongoing
series
that
connects
people
to
the
wonder
of
nature
and
offers
hope
for
a
future
benefiting
both
people
and
wildlife.
Each
month,
“Stories
of
Hope
and
Wonder”
will
feature
a
different
species
overcoming
some
of
nature’s
toughest
obstacles
to
ensure
its
survival.
To
access
these
stories,
visit
www.worldwildlife.org/hopeandwonder.
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Bees
are
industrious
creatures
that
are
essential
to
vital
food
systems
and
healthy
ecosystems.
While
bees
are
at
risk,
individuals
can
make
all
the
difference
in
their
own
backyards
this
World
Bee
Day
and
beyond.