They buzz along, flitting from bloom to bloom, just doing what they do. But what exactly are they doing, and how important are bees, really? These insects are more vital than many people realize.

What Is a Bee?

The general term “bee” includes more than 20,000 species of flying insects in the scientific family Apidae. They are closely related to wasps and ants, and multiple bee species are found on every continent except Antarctica. They’re found in every habitat where insect-pollinated flowering plants are present, from deserts to forests to meadows to jungles, and even in urban and suburban regions.

There are many differences between bee species. Some are as small as just two millimeters, while the largest bees are up to two inches in size. Some bees sting while others don’t, some are social and thrive in large colonies while others are solitary. Some bees make honey and others do not. Bees can be any color of the rainbow, and in fact some bees even have iridescent, rainbow-like bodies.

The importance of bees has been widely recognized for millennia, and bees have been featured in culture and mythology in a number of ways. Bees are part of different ancient cultures’ legends and folktales, and bees have been represented in art and literature. Stylized bees have been noted in rock paintings that date from 15,000 BC, and domesticated beekeeping was common as early as 4,500 years ago. Clearly, bees are a critical part of our planet’s ecosystem and we rely on them in many ways.

Why We Need Bees

Bees are a critical part of life as we know it. Bees are extensive pollinators, spreading pollen between flowering plants and enabling food production. Bees’ role in biodiversity is far more extensive than just pollination, however, and understanding the different roles bees play can help us better recognize just how important these insects are.

• Pollination: Bees are necessary to pollinate approximately one-third of agricultural food crops, including avocados, almonds, vanilla, cucumbers, strawberries, apples, tomatoes, melons, coffee, citrus fruits, and many other fruits and vegetables and as much as 80 percent of all flowering plants. Furthermore, livestock feed crops such as alfalfa and clover also require bees for pollination, as do many commercial crops such as cotton and flax. This gives bees a tremendous economic impact in every country.
• Food Production: Not only are bees essential for pollinating a great many food crops and assisting in food production for livestock and thus impacting dairy farming and meat production, but the honey bees produce is also a critical food source and natural sweetener. Honey has strong antioxidant properties and is an important component of wholistic diets. Honey has a long shelf-life for food storage, and different honeys – with different flavors depending on the flowers the bees pollinated before producing the honey – have different uses in haute cuisine.
• Beeswax: The wax bees produce in their hives – the “honeycomb” structures of their nesting sites – is useful in many industries. Beeswax can be found in lotions, pomades, lip balms, and other cosmetics. It is also useful as a lubricant in different manufacturing processes, and is a component of wood polish. Beeswax candles and sealing waxes are popular, and the natural wax from bees is used in bookbinding threads and other products. This gives bees an important part in many diverse industries.
• Feeding Wildlife: Bees don’t just contribute to humans’ food sources, they also feed other wildlife. Bears, raccoons, opossums and other animals feed on beeswax and honey when they find hives. Some animals, including different reptiles and many species of birds, also eat bees. Furthermore, the flowers, berries, and fruits bees pollinate become critical food sources for many animals in different habitats.
• Medicine: Bees contribute to the medical community in several ways. Honey is naturally antibacterial and is useful in different wound treatments, not just for humans but also for zoo animals, wildlife rehabilitation, and pets. Honey can also reduce acid reflux and is an effective treatment for coughs and sore throats. Bee venom has anti-inflammatory properties, and there is even a live bee acupuncture regimen.

With so many useful and essential contributions that bees make around the world, it is no surprise how important they are to many industries, businesses, and individuals.

How to Help Bees

Despite the importance of bees, these critical insects have experienced dramatic population declines in recent years. There are a number of factors that have contributed to bee population collapses, including urbanization and loss of flowering plants, climate change that alters habitat and seasonal weather patterns, and pesticide use that can be toxic to bees. Fortunately, it’s not too late to save bees, and we can all take simple steps to promote bee-friendly habitats and support bees.

• Plant native, bee-friendly flowers and trees in your yard.
• Avoid buying seedlings or plants treated with neonicotinoids, which are toxic to bees.
• Provide shelter for bees with a bee house, woodpile, or hollow tree.
• Minimize or eliminate pesticide use that could be detrimental to bees.
• Provide a shallow water dish with pebbles or marbles in it so bees can easily drink.
• Support local beekeepers by buying local honey and beeswax products.
• Educate yourself and others about the importance of bees and how to live a bee-friendly life.

Bees are some of the most important insects on the plant, and understanding how critical bees are to every facet of our lives will help everyone better recognize the importance of bees. Once we truly realize how essential bees are, we can easily take steps to support and nurture them.