Today is a very special day because it’s World Bee Day! Today, people around the world are celebrating the wonderful pollinators that help us grow our food by pollinating the plants we depend on. To celebrate, I’m going to give you a fun activity you can do with your family to help out our furry insect friends. But before that, we’re going to recap all we’ve learned about Bees. here are…
7 Amazing Bee Facts!
1. There are 20,000 Known Species of Bees
I know that’s loads right! But guess what? There are likely more than that, as new Bee species are being found on a regular basis! Just a few weeks ago, a new mining Bee was found in Western Australia!
2. There are 7 families of Bees
It would be really difficult to remember all 20,000 Bee species. Fortunately, they can be categorised into 7 families. Do you remember them?
- Apidae
- Hallictidae
- Megachilidae
- Andrenidae
- Colletidae
- Melittidae
- Stenotritidae
A big well done to you if you knew all of them!
3. There are 3 categories of Bees
Those names are kinda tricky, huh? Not to worry, the 7 Bee families are categorised into three easier-to-remember groups. Do you remember those?
- Long-tongued Bees
- Medium-tongued Bees
- Short-tongued Bees
Did you get them all? Well done if you did!
4. The Apidae Family – Sweetest of the Bees
The Apidae family is the largest Bee family with 5700 Bee species! and full of Bees you likely recognise, such as the Bumble Bee and the Honey Bee, but also some you might not like the Cuckoo Bee.
5. That’s not that many.
Of the 5700 Bees in the Apidae family, only 7 of them are Honey Bees, not as many as you thought, right?
6. Not all Bees sting?!
That’s right! Some of the Bees in the Apidae family do not sting (such as the Sugarbag Bee or the Bush Bee). Bees are a very varied species; some are more wasp-like, others are big, and some are very small. Some collect nectar, some collect pollen, and others collect floral oil. But the one thing they all have in common? They’re all incredibly important, which is why it’s so sad that…
7. 18 Bee Species are endangered
Yes, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List, 18 species of Bees are endangered, and according to an analysis done by the Xerces Society in partnership with the IUCN, 28% of Bumble Bees in Canada, the US, and Mexico are endangered.
Additionally, according to NatureServe, 50% of Leafcutter Bee species and 27% of Mason Bee species are “at risk”. This is great news for no one. As one of our primary pollinator species, we need Bees to help maintain our ecosystems and keep our food systems as healthy as possible.
So, what can we do about it?
Firstly, let’s talk about what’s harming them.
- Pesticides – these toxins are detrimental to Bee health.
- Parasites and diseases – such as Colony Collapse Disorder, in which Bees suddenly abandon their hives (though cases of this are decreasing!).
- A lack of nesting sites – such as host plants for butterflies, dead wood, and bare earth.
- Habitat loss – the fragmentation of their native habitat alongside a reduction in food has contributed to their decline.
But don’t worry! There’s always hope, and you and your family can help our Bee friends out whilst making your garden look pretty all by…
Planting Sunflowers!
That’s right! Sunflowers are one of many plants you can use to help out the pollinators in your area.
Try to use a native species if you can, as they’ll be better adapted to your home’s specific environment, as well as help support local ecosystems, which will help native Bee populations thrive.
Growing sunflowers is very easy, as they’re not overly fussy plants. You can start them in pots if you would like, but you can also just direct-sow them into the ground, which is the method we’ll use in this example. So, let’s begin!
Step One – Pick a sunny spot in your garden
As their name suggests, Sunflowers love sun, so the first thing to do is pick a sheltered sunny spot in your garden. Any spot that gets 6-8 hours of sun is perfect.
Quick note: ‘sheltered spot’ refers to any spot in your garden that has man-made or natural barriers such as hedges, trees, or walls. These barriers protect your plants from the elements such as frost, wind, or harsh midday sun.
So, why do sunflowers that love sun need a sheltered spot? Despite being able to tolerate some drought, they thrive in well-draining, nutrient-rich soil. A sheltered spot helps keep the ground moist, which will help your sunflower grow a lot bigger!
Step Two – Dig a hole 2” deep
A depth of 2” gives the seeds enough space to anchor themselves whilst also shielding them from birds who’d otherwise dig them up and eat them.
Drop two seeds into the hole (this is in case one doesn’t germinate).
If you are planting more than one, you’ll need to space them out. If they’re single-stem sunflowers, then space them 6-9” apart; if they’re branching sunflowers, space them 12-24” apart (your seed packet should tell you what type they are, so don’t worry about that!).
Step Three – Water them
How much you water them will depend on the type of sunflower you have, but most will thrive if you use the following information.
They’ll need quite a bit of watering in the beginning as sprouts need moist conditions to grow. Water them several times a week to start, so that the soil remains moist.
Once they are established – 6-12” tall – water them once a week with 1” of water (0.6 gallons or 9 cups of water). If the soil is wet 6” deep, then you’ve given them enough water.
Quick note: Sunflowers can be overwatered! So take into account the weather and adjust your schedule around that. If they’re thirsty, they’ll let you know. Their leaves will start to discolour (go yellow or brown), and they’ll look wilted.
That’s it! Nature will do the rest of the work for you, and Bees (and birds!) will thank you. You’ll likely see both flock to your garden to feast on the seeds of your sunflower.
This fun activity is something you can do with your family. It will add a lovely touch of joy to your garden and really help our furry friends out!