Bees
remember and recognize human faces. I wrote about this on a post last year, and
I mentioned some facts about the fascinating brain of a bee.
The brain of a bee is about the size of a
poppy seed, but it contains almost one million neurons. I was
thrilled to discover Stephen Buchmann’s book, which was published by Island Press this year, so I borrowed it from
the library as soon as I learned about it.
Buchmann is a pollination ecologist who
specializes in researching bees. His book takes us on an adventure to explore
their sensations, minds and experiences. His goal is to spark wonder and
curiosity for bees, and to dispel fears.
Buchmann
describes the structure of a bee brain and the ways it functions. I was astonished to learn that brain
chemicals (neurotransmitters) that exist in our own brains and influence our
behaviors also exist in bees. For example, serotonin and dopamine are also
found in bees.
What a Bee Knows reveals details about the intriguing
lives of different species of bees. We learn about their behaviors, moods,
nutrition and special abilities. Most bees feed on pollen and nectar.
You may have heard about the “bugs” living in
our gut, and how these bugs make up the composition of our microbiome. Our
microbiome is linked to our health and general wellbeing. You will be surprised
to learn that bees also have a gut microbiome. Researchers are actively
studying their microbiome and how this amazing assemblage of bacteria, fungi
and viruses is connected to their health. For example, Buchmann and his
colleagues have found Lactobacillus in the gut of honey bees.
Some of the components of the bees’ microbiome transfer from the pollen of flowers when the bees visit the flowers, and
some of the protein from the microbes in the pollen are part of the nutrition
of the larvae of the bees.
Pesticides and herbicides in the environment cause
a disruption of the microbiome of bees, and this has the potential to
compromise their health. Currently, bees are in serious decline and there are
many reasons for this.
Climate
change is an important one. The massive amounts of carbon dioxide spewed by
burning fossil fuels continues to worsen climate change. Everybody is impacted
by climate change. Bees are not an exception. Pesticides are fossil fuel-
based, so they belong to the same issue that deserves our attention and
understanding.
Let’s share some figures from Buchmann's book to emphasize the need to protect bees:
"About 80 percent of the world’s 369,000 species of flowering
plants depend upon insect pollination for fruit and seed set. More than 80
percent of the leading 115 major crop species worldwide depend on or at least
partially benefit from floral visitation by animal pollinators. Pollination
by animals, with bees predominating, contributes to an estimated 35 percent of
global total crop production. Globally, the annual value of insect
pollination of crop plants is estimated to be around 253 billion US dollars".
Bee pollination improves both the quality and quantity of the crops. Food, fiber and beverage production depend on bees. Bees even ameliorate shelf life and commercial values. "We need bees more than they need us".
It is time to push human arrogance aside and do what it
takes to support them. The good news is that we can help bees to survive and
thrive by making mindful choices:
Plant wildflowers. If you don’t have a yard, use your window sill. Everything helps. Avoid buying hybrid flowers because those plants are selected to please humans, not pollinators, so they may have little nectar or pollen. Choose plants that are adapted to the local soil and climatic conditions. Native plants will entice a vast array of pollinators and will enliven your garden in delightful ways.
Avoid using insecticides. Neonicotinoids, for example, are responsible for decimating bees and other pollinators and they still continue to be on sale.
You can learn more about this here:
https://wisconsinpollinators.com/Articles/Neonicotinoids.aspx
Roundup
contains glyphosate, which affects the gut microbiota of honey bees. Other
ingredients in Roundup are also toxic.
Avoid using lawn chemicals. Lawn care products contain hidden insecticides and herbicides. Besides, you risk harming yourself, your family and your pets. Enjoy the dandelions and clover. Remember that clover enriches the soil.
Avoid
herbicides; they
lower the number of blooms. Roadside weed blooms are food sources for various
pollinators. Even though fungicides used on fruit trees don’t kill bees
directly, they contaminate the food used for the bee larvae. This
contamination affects the gut microbiome, whose integrity they need to stay
healthy.
Avoid
mulching flower beds or paths. Thick-chipped bark mulches in flower beds harms
bees. Around four thousand species of native bees in the United States are
ground nesting. They need bare ground to make their nests.
Dead trees
or limbs provide a habitat for leafcutter bees, mason bees, and other wildlife.
Don’t remove them.
There are projects you can join to support bees as a citizen scientist. You can also visit sites that post relevant information
about bees:
https://www.beesinyourbackyard.com
Understanding the complexity of their brains and behaviors is an important aspect of the book. However, when the author compared the bee brain to the human brain he stated that human beings are born with a fixed number of neurons, and that this number does not change after birth. This has been debunked by research. Neurogenesis has also been documented in human brains, and it is also relevant to emphasize the concept of neuroplasticity.
Neuroplasticity is the process through which new connections and pathways develop in the brain, and brain stimulation plays an important role in boosting neuroplasticity. Doing activities that stimulate the brain, such as reading, learning new skills and other activities can help to foster neuroplasticity. The good news is that keeping a healthy lifestyle with adequate nutrition, sleep hygiene, exercise and meditation helps to support the neuroplasticity of the brain. The bottom line is that neuroplasticity happens in bees as well as in human beings.
I found this amazing interview to Dr. Julia Basso. She is a neuroscientist, yoga instructor and dancer who researches the effects of yoga and dance on the brain. Last but not least, if you want to keep your brain healthy, avoid smoking, alcohol and drugs as part of your supportive plan.
I never understood the fear of bees. I work
alongside them without any kind of problem. If we treat bees with respect and
consideration, they have no reason to attack us, so it is time to make choices
that support their survival. We can all do our part to protect them. In doing
so, we are supporting our own wellbeing as well as the present and future of
all life in this beautiful planet.
References
related to this post:
https://wisconsinpollinators.com/Articles/Neonicotinoids.aspx
