by Nathan Walker, Franz Witte Horticulturist
Did you know that a majority of bees you see out and about are not native to our continent?
When you think of a bee, it is most likely the common honeybee (Apis mellifera). This species was one of the first insects to be domesticated by humans and is still kept by beekeepers to this day. Like many other species, we brought them with us here to the Americas in the 1600’s. They quickly escaped captivity and conquered the continent, becoming the most common pollinator species by far. Because of this, our native pollinator species are facing increased competition for pollen resources.
Some of the common Idaho native bees include the Hunt’s bumble bee, brown-belted bumble bee, striped sweat bee, and golden northern bumble bee. All of these underdogs face harsh competition against the bees that have infiltrated from overseas.
The competitive pressure that our native bees face only surmounts as we clear land for development and remove native flora. Removing the native plants also removes the food and habitat for all native animal life – not just bees! With these delicate ecosystems endangered, it is more important now than ever to bring native plants back into the modern landscape.
Take the globe mallow bee, for example. This native bee has a specialized relationship with globe mallow plants (genus Sphaeralcea), relying almost exclusively on their pollen. Without any globe mallows, these bees cannot compete with honeybees and thrive.
Here in the Treasure Valley, globe mallow bees have become rare due to honeybee competition and the removal of native plants. When this practice is coupled with the widespread use of pesticides; it is easy to understand why native pollinators are in decline! We encourage folks to redesign our traditional landscapes to embrace and support native plants. Together we can take steps to restore lost ecological biodiversity and preserve a more beautiful world for our future generations to enjoy.
You don’t have to overhaul your entire yard overnight. Start small by replacing a section of grass with a globe mallow shrub and add a nice local penstemon flower to your flower bed. Even small changes can make a big difference.
