What You Should Know About Pollinators
About 95% of the time, if you were to ask someone about pollinators, they would immediately talk about honey bees. Honey bees are the best known pollinators. In fact, they are the most prevalent pollinators in nature. They play a vital role, but they are not the only insects or animals that contribute to the process.
Pollen is the unique signature of a plant. In order for that plant to continue to reproduce, it needs its pollen to spread throughout their environment. As you well know, plants and flowers are not mobile. They require the help of industrious insects and animals to collect and spread their pollen for them.
Buzzing bees that move from flower to flower are not only collecting nectar, but they collect pollen. The pollen sticks on their little bodies as they buzz from flower to flower, allowing them to spread it throughout the local ecosystem and helping the plants produce fruit and nuts. This reproductive system ensures that plants can continue to thrive and propagate their species.
The Importance of Pollinators
We talk a lot about the importance of protecting our honey bees. The reason has to do with their role as pollinators. Honey bees and other pollinating insects and animals are almost entirely responsible for the survival of many of the plant species that we eat. Humans don’t do much pollination unless it’s done accidentally. The general population does not make a concerted effort to aid in the reproduction of native plants. In fact, most of us skip the whole process altogether and just eat the final product in the form of coffee, almonds, peanuts, chocolate and honey.
Pollinators are the unassuming heroes in the pollination process. Honey bees forage for food to bring back to the hive so they can convert it into honey, beeswax and propolis. They then use these substances to sustain the colony and build their hive. Almost as a happy accident, honey bees collect pollen that sticks to their bodies. Once they are done eating from one flower, they buzz to another, inadvertently dropping pollen and contributing to reproduction.
Did you know that flowers are brightly-colored for a reason? Honey bees and other pollinators visit flowers and plants because they act as their primary food source. The appearance of the plant is what attracts the pollinators in the first place. Honey bees, hummingbirds and butterflies will be lured to specific plants based on their colors and appearances.
How You Can Aid in the Pollination Process
To help promote this process, it is important that the ecosystem is full of plants from a variety of native species. As homeowners, you can do your part by preserving the natural ecosystem and the local plants that grow there. You can avoid planting species that destroy the native plants, or those that do not provide adequate nourishment for pollinators.
The best thing you can do to support the pollination process is to provide a variety of food sources for your local pollinators. You can also ensure that there is a nearby water source, because pollinators require water to survive just like us. Also, avoid the use of nasty chemicals or pesticides that could harm pollinators or kill the nourishing plant life. Small steps can make a big difference!
Do you need help handling a bee problem in San Diego?
Hopefully, you have an understanding of how important the pollination process is, not only to the survival of honey bees, but to the variety and size of our food supply. As San Diego residents, there are a few things you can do to help protect bees and promote the pollination process. From maintaining local plants and avoiding pesticides to only choosing live bee removal, you can do your part in helping our local ecosystem.
If you are faced with a large swarm or beehive on your San Diego property, call the professionals at D-Tek Live Bee Removal today. Our team of experienced technicians can help assess your bee situation and provide you with a fast and accurate quote for live bee removal services.
At D-Tek Live Bee Removal, we only use safe and humane bee removal processes so you can feel good knowing that you are doing your part to protect honey bees and contribute to the success of our ecosystem.