QEII Centre’s Post

Honey bees are among the many bee species crucial for the pollination of one-third of our food supply. Their impact on our daily lives is significant. To support ongoing efforts to learn about these amazing pollinators, here are three quick facts about honey bees.

Could you imagine walking into your grocery store and not seeing the shelves lined with food? There would be few fresh fruits or vegetables. There would be no products containing honey, almonds, coffee, and chocolate! Even milk and beef would be in short supply. That’s right — pollinators like bees are responsible for plants that feed cattle — like alfalfa. Pollinators are responsible for an extensive amount of the foods that we consume. Pollinators (including moths, flies, beetles, birds, bats and more) are also part of maintaining the lungs of our planet. Pollinators help the growth of many trees as well as other plants! They are truly a keystone species – a vital part of many ecosystems.

"In the article about different types of bees, you can learn about the importance of bees in our ecosystem 🐝. Discover the various species of bees and their unique characteristics, from honeybees to bumblebees. This educational and friendly guide will help you appreciate these essential pollinators." . . #chrissellscentralflorida, #remax, #remaxheritageprofessionals, #polkcountyrealtor, #polkcountyrealestate, #winterhavenrealtor, #winterhavenrealestate, #55+realtor, #newhomespecialist

Could you imagine walking into your grocery store and not seeing the shelves lined with food? There would be few fresh fruits or vegetables. There would be no products containing honey, almonds, coffee, and chocolate! Even milk and beef would be in short supply. That’s right — pollinators like bees are responsible for plants that feed cattle — like alfalfa. Pollinators are responsible for an extensive amount of the foods that we consume. Pollinators (including moths, flies, beetles, birds, bats and more) are also part of maintaining the lungs of our planet. Pollinators help the growth of many trees as well as other plants! They are truly a keystone species – a vital part of many ecosystems.

🐝Pollinator of the week: Common Wasp 💮Plant of the week: Dandelion ✅Action of the week: Learn about late food sources for pollinators Most flowers have stopped blooming by now, but a few important native species are still in flower, providing a vital source of pollen and nectar for the pollinators that are still around. They include Dandelions, Perennial Sowthistle, Ivy and Yarrow. Ivy was a particular favourite in 2023, with far more sightings of wild bees feeding on this in October than any other plant. Help protect it and feed our native pollinators by avoiding cutting your hedgerows. If you must cut, do so after Ivy and other native plants have flowered and fruited. Find out more about pollinators in October here: https://lnkd.in/db4r2ZTh

Did you know that native plants and flowers play a crucial role in supporting our local pollinators? 🐝🦋 These plants provide essential food and habitat for bees, butterflies, and other pollinators, which are vital for maintaining a healthy ecosystem. Our sponsored wildflower area at 147 South and Chapel Hill Street is a perfect example of how planting native species, like our beautiful sunflowers, can create a thriving environment for pollinators. 🌻 These flowers are not just a pretty sight; they offer nectar and pollen that support a variety of pollinators throughout the season. Pollinators are key players in our food system, responsible for the reproduction of many plants, including those that produce fruits, vegetables, and seeds. Without them, we would see a significant decline in the availability of these foods. We’re proud to contribute to the preservation and support of local wildlife with our wildflower project. Learn more about our journey with this sponsorship here: https://lnkd.in/gCXsu2sz #CarpeDiemCleaning #SupportPollinators #NativePlants #Wildflowers #DurhamNC #CommunityNature

Another fascinating and lesser-known bee species important for pollination is the Leafcutter Bee (genus Megachile). 🐝🍃✨💛 Leafcutter Bees are solitary bees that are known for their unique behavior of cutting circular pieces of leaves to build their nests. These bees are excellent pollinators, often more efficient than honeybees because they practice what's known as "buzz pollination." This method involves vibrating their bodies as they gather pollen, which helps release pollen more effectively from certain types of flowers. Leafcutter bees are particularly vital for the pollination of wildflowers and are also important in the cultivation of vegetables and fruits like tomatoes, peppers, and blueberries. Their nesting habits cause no harm to plants, as they only use small sections of leaves and prefer plants that are not typically valued highly for aesthetics, such as roses. #LeafcutterBee #Megachile #SolitaryBees #Pollination #BuzzPollination #nativebees credit: David Attenborough

World Honey Bee Day is the third Saturday in August, and it is a buzzing celebration for beekeepers, honey lovers, and all blooming things. World Honey Bee Day recognizes both honey bees and the beekeepers who tend the hives. It also encourages everyone to enjoy and buy locally-grown honey. World Honey Bee Day is a day to learn about honey bees! We support pollinators such as honey bees when we plant wildflowers, orchards, and other flowering plants. They depend on the nectar of a variety of plants for their survival. Conversely, we depend on honeybees for our survival, too! Without their pollinating abilities, many nutritious plants wouldn't reproduce.

We decided to try planting wild flowers in the large concrete fixed pots we have outside our Telford branch, which when they flowered 🌻 were beautiful and attracted the bees and other wildlife. However, with the change in seasons autumn 🍂 is upon us and they have started to look a little sad. 😕 Who knew whilst tidying up the pots, that somehow in our mixture of seeds, we had planted some carrot 🥕 seeds and imagine our suprise 😮 when there were carrots on the end! 🥕 🥕 🥕 Nature really has a way of suprising us when we least expect it. 😊 Next step is to plant some lavender, to keep helping the bees 🐝 where we can. Bees 🐝 are so important to our environment, as pollinators, they drink the nectar of flowers 💐 and transfer pollen to other plants which fertilises different species so that they can produce fruit 🍌 🍊 and seeds 🌱 . Bees are vital to us, without them, we would not have items such as coffee, ☕ potatoes, 🥔 or chocolate,🍫 as well as many other items we we just take for granted. To find out how you can do more to help with the decline in bees 🐝 its worth visiting the following:- https://lnkd.in/e7Rz6wSr MPI Limited #recruitmentredefined #carrots #bumblebees #nature

Another fascinating and lesser-known bee species important for pollination is the Leafcutter Bee (genus Megachile). 🐝🍃✨💛 Leafcutter Bees are solitary bees that are known for their unique behavior of cutting circular pieces of leaves to build their nests. These bees are excellent pollinators, often more efficient than honeybees because they practice what's known as "buzz pollination." This method involves vibrating their bodies as they gather pollen, which helps release pollen more effectively from certain types of flowers. Leafcutter bees are particularly vital for the pollination of wildflowers and are also important in the cultivation of vegetables and fruits like tomatoes, peppers, and blueberries. Their nesting habits cause no harm to plants, as they only use small sections of leaves and prefer plants that are not typically valued highly for aesthetics, such as roses. #LeafcutterBee #Megachile #SolitaryBees #Pollination #BuzzPollination #NativeBees