National Honey Bee Day

By Joann M. Ringelstetter

Photos in this blog post can be purchased as wall art, paper prints, downloads, phone cases, and keepsakes. Just click on the desired photo and look for the blue “BUY” button.

As I was reading my email this morning, I found out that today is National Honey Bee Day. Who knew...other than beekeepers, that is? The mission behind this day includes three goals: to promote and advance beekeeping, to educate the public about honey bees and beekeeping, and to make the public aware of environmental concerns affecting honey bees.

Bees Quilt Square, Sauk County, Wisconsin

Many people are afraid of bees or consider them a nuisance, but we have bees to thank for much of the food we eat. In 2011, the Natural Resources Defense Council published a report saying that bees are responsible for pollinating more than $15 billion a year in U.S. crops. These crops include apples, oranges, lemons, limes, berries, nectarines, peaches, pears, cantaloupes, watermelons, pumpkins, avocados, carrots, cucumbers, onions, squash, and almonds. In fact, at least 30 percent of the world’s crops and 90% of wild plants thrive because of cross-pollination by bees.

Honeybee on Spiderwort, Green County, Wisconsin

Economic figures from 2011 show that $150 million worth of honey was being produced annually by U.S. honey bees. However, in 2006, U.S. beekeepers began reporting that honey bees were abandoning their hives.

This disappearance has become known as Colony Collapse Disorder. These losses have continued and have increased. From April 2015 to April 2016, the nation’s beekeepers lost approximately 44 percent of their honey bee colonies.

Bee Hives at Mike's Bees and Honey, Hancock County, Ohio

Researchers think a number of interrelated factors may be the cause of this disorder. These factors include global warming, pesticide use, habitat loss, and parasites.

It is definitely vital for our policy makers to take action to protect bees and other pollinators which will, in turn, protect our food supply. But we citizens can also do our part by greatly decreasing the amount of pesticides we use on a regular basis and supporting habitat protection.

Empty Beehives, Sauk County, Wisconsin

Now for some fun facts about bees and beekeepers from PennApic (Pennsylvania Apiculture Inc.), the parent organization that oversees and facilitates both the Pennsylvania Backyard Beekeepers Association (PBBA) and the National Honey Bee Day program:

• To make 1 pound of honey, bees may need to fly 50,000 miles.
• The worker bees are all females.
• Honey bees may forage up to 2-5 miles from the hive.
• Directly, honey bees pollinate the flowers of 1/3 of all fruits and vegetables.
• Indirectly, honey bees pollinate 70% of the food crops, through seed production, plant fertilization, etc.
• Honey comes in many varieties, such as orange blossom, clover, alfalfa, blueberry, and apple blossom.

Honeybee Cutout, Sauk County, Wisconsin

• There are only half the number of beekeepers there were 25 years ago.
• There are 1/3 less beehives as there were 25 years ago.
• 95% of beekeepers are hobbyists.
• Beekeeping dates back at least 4500 years.
• Beehives are kept on farms, in backyards, on balconies, and high-rise rooftops, all across the country.
• Honey bees are kept or managed in all 50 states.

Beehives and Sumac, Sauk County, Wisconsin

I used to be afraid of bees of all kinds, but when I started photographing them, my fear turned into curiosity and respect for all that bees do for us. I hope this blog post has done the same for you.

Honeybee on Butterfly Weed, Sauk County, Wisconsin

Photos in this blog post can be purchased as wall art, paper prints, downloads, phone cases, and keepsakes by clicking on the photo. You will be taken to the gallery website where you will see a big blue "BUY" button. Or to see all photos available, click on the "Browse Galleries" button on the menu at the top of this page. Thank you for your interest!

Happy Shunpiking!
Joann