Bees In California Forests

We frequently talk about bees in both cities and rural areas. However, in Southern California, we have the luxury of being at the beach in the morning and on the slopes at night. Southern California has heavily forested regions with bees that behave differently from those in less-dense areas. If you are somewhere that is getting snowy right now, you probably live in a forested area. Bees play an incredibly significant role in our forest ecosystems and are important enough not to be overlooked.

Bees are Necessary in the Forest

Bees are recognized for their efforts in pollination. Honeybees create delicious honey, and their tireless pollination efforts allow humans a more diverse range of foods from which to choose. Bees that live and work in the forest help native flora reproduce and help sustain crops. Wind is a friend of bees in the forest, and gusts of air move pollen from plant to plant, allowing more pollinators to access it. Flowering plants are pollinated by many species of bees, including honey and bumble. They are in good company with butterflies, moths, and bats! All pollinators use the nectar of a flowering plant and then spread it around the nearby plants.

An active and healthy pollinator population I the forest is critical to regeneration. Many trees are pollinated, thanks to the collective efforts of bees and other small pollinators.

Peculiar Places to Nest

A thriving forest creates organic places for bees to nest. Bees may nest in dead wood, hollow stems, and the cavities of trees. Bees enjoy the shelter and solitude the forest landscape offers, but this location also presents hardships, such as harsh weather and disease. Wild bees in the forest may be social or solitary, indicated by their nesting style. Social bees nest in hives and are part of a highly efficient colony that protects the queen and whose sole purpose is to take care of baby bees (brood). Solitary bees may nest in sun-exposed parts of the ground, using fallen leaves for protection. Wood and stems are perfect for the carpenter and leafcutter bees, which is why the forest is buzzing with pollinator activity!

California Winters for Bees

Although California has some of the mildest climates in the nation, winters in the forest can be challenging for some bee species. Bees will hibernate in freezing weather, and because they can’t fly when their wings are wet, they often won’t even forage until the weather dries up. Bees are master weather forecasters and will stay hidden away when they don’t have a high likelihood of surviving what is coming.

One of the most notable differences between forest bees and beekeepers' bees is that forest bees use their resources without intervention. This can also be their downfall if mites infect a hive. Bees kept by skilled beekeepers may be able to forage significantly more of the year than those living naturally in the forest.

Lasting Forest Health

Bees are an essential part of sustainable forests in California and worldwide. Leaves and wood debris create undergrowth that is alive with insects, small animals, and pollinators. A healthy forest gives back to bees, providing materials, access to food and pollen sources, natural shelter, and uninterrupted bee behaviors.

Regardless of whether bees are pollinating in the fields of Temecula or the mountains of Big Bear, bees will continue to be worth protecting. These little buzzers are selfless in their efforts and continue to benefit all ecosystems in which they exist, including Southern California’s forests. If you happen to come upon a hollow log or fallen tree in the forest, there is no need to disturb it – there may be happy bees hunkering down inside.