Saturday, October 25, 2025
More

    Top 6 This Week

    popular+

    The buzz on wild bees versus honeybees

    Sharing is SO MUCH APPRECIATED!

    By David Suzuki

    For many people “bees” means “honeybees” — the prolific insects that flit from flower to flower, collecting nectar and pollen to take back to their hives. They’re important agricultural pollinators and produce honey and wax that humans gather and use. Their utility to people has heightened fears about “colony collapse disorder,” in which various suspected causes — fungi, mites, parasites, pollution, insecticides and starvation — have killed off unusually high numbers of colonies.

    Still, honeybees have proliferated, thanks in part to the growing popularity of urban beekeeping. That may sound good, but it poses problems.

    Honeybees, Apis mellifera, haven’t always lived in North America. They’re native to Europe, Africa and parts of Asia and were brought here by Europeans starting in the early 17th century. They weren’t put into widespread use as agricultural pollinators until the 20th century.

    As the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation points out, “They became increasingly important with the advent of larger monocultures and the use of broad-spectrum insecticides. To fulfill the demand for crop pollination, millions of hives are managed in and trucked all over North America.”

    Despite colony collapse, there are likely more honeybees on the planet now than ever before. As honeybee populations grow and spread from country to city, from backyards to gardens to rooftops, many of the estimated 3,600 native wild bee species in North America — including about 800 in Canada — aren’t faring so well. Most bees are solitary, nesting alone in crevices, hollow stems or underground burrows. None of the native species in Canada make honey. Unlike honeybees, solitary bees and bumblebees are vulnerable to habitat loss.

    From shiny sweat bees to industrious mason bees, these native pollinators are quietly vanishing. A comprehensive study of bees in Montreal underscored this issue. From 2013 to 2020, as honeybee hives skyrocketed from 250 to nearly 3,000, native bee populations nosedived. Each hive can house up to 50,000 honeybees, leading to significant competition with solitary wild bees. This seesaw effect between hive expansion and native bee decline is a clear sign that our good intentions might be off track.

    The research suggested beekeepers maintain a sustainable threshold of three honeybee hives per square kilometre to avoid crowding out native bees. In dense urban areas, this threshold is often exceeded, creating a highly competitive environment.

    Looking at the bigger picture, we see that insect populations overall have declined globally by more than 45 per cent over the past 40 years. Insects are vital for pollinating plants, providing food for birds and other animals (including humans!) and recycling nature’s waste. It’s not just native bees that are declining, but also butterflies, moths and other key pollinators. In Canada, many butterfly and moth species are at serious risk, highlighting the urgent need to rethink our practices.

    Honeybees are often at the centre of “save the bees” campaigns, but they’re not always the best pollinators, nor are they the most in need of conservation. Domesticated honeybees are, in many cases, outcompeting native wild bees.

    We need to shift toward more inclusive urban pollinator strategies. Instead of adding more honeybee hives, let’s turn our cities into pollinator paradises by planting native wildflowers, creating habitat corridors and conducting citywide pollinator health assessments. The David Suzuki Foundation has a number of resources to help get things blooming, including LawnShare, the award-winning Butterflyway Project and Butterflies in My Backyard, or BIMBY.

    This doesn’t mean abandoning honeybees; it just means balancing our enthusiasm for them with the needs of all pollinators. It’s time to rewild our urban spaces, making room for every bee. Swapping hives for habitats — think wildflower gardens and undisturbed nesting sites — is the way forward.

    And we shouldn’t just focus on the many services bees provide for humans. As conservation biologist Sheila Colla writes in Canadian Geographic, “Our native bees have relationships with microorganisms, parasitoids, plants, birds and mammals that we have barely begun to understand. Just as with larger, charismatic animals like polar bears and white rhinos, the conservation value of native bees should not and cannot only be defined by what they can do for us.”

    Let’s adapt our practices to ensure urban environments support all pollinators, not just honeybees. This is crucial for the health of our planet and the vibrant tapestry of life that sustains us all.

    David Suzuki is a scientist, broadcaster, author and co-founder of the David Suzuki Foundation. Written with David Suzuki Foundation Rewilding Communities Program Manager Jode Roberts.

    Learn more at davidsuzuki.org.

    REFERENCES:

    Colony collapse disorder:

    https://www.epa.gov/pollinator-protection/colony-collapse-disorder

    Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation points out:

    https://www.xerces.org/blog/want-to-save-bees-focus-on-habitat-not-honey-bees

    Comprehensive study of bees in Montreal:

    https://peerj.com/articles/14699

    45 per cent over the past 40 years:

    https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2023989118

    Many butterfly and moth species are at serious risk:

    https://canadiangeographic.ca/articles/working-towards-a-wild-pollinator-strategy-for-canada

    David Suzuki Foundation has a number of resources:

    https://davidsuzuki.org/project/pollinators

    LawnShare:

    https://davidsuzuki.org/take-action/act-locally/lawnshare

    Butterflyway Project:

    https://davidsuzuki.org/take-action/act-locally/butterflyway

    Butterflies in My Backyard:

    https://davidsuzuki.org/take-action/volunteer/citizen-science/bimby

    Sheila Colla writes:

    https://canadiangeographic.ca/articles/the-truth-about-bees

    Sharing is SO MUCH APPRECIATED!

    Popular Articles

    GEORGIANBAYNEWS.COM

    Popular Articles

    PUBLIC APPEAL FOR WITNESSES TO COLLISION

    (Springwater Township, ON) - Members of the Huronia West Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) are investigating a motor vehicle collision that took place...

    AI expert: ‘We’ll be toast’ without changes in AI technology | CNN

    AI technology pioneer Geoffrey Hinton speaks to CNN’s Anderson Cooper about the potential dire effects of artificial intelligence on humanity and what can be...

    Solar Flares: The Invisible Threat to Earth’s Communication Networks

    As a massive sunspot turns toward Earth, experts warn of potential disruptions to radio signals, GPS, and power grids. Powerful solar flares are currently disrupting...

    Weather Event Update – Tuesday, April 1

    The Town would like to provide an update regarding the weekend weather event and the forecasted conditions for Wednesday, April 2. Crews have been...

    Growing Roots: The Legacy of Smart Bros. Ltd. in Collingwood, 1890-1970 | Collingwood Museum’s New Exhibit

    Collingwood, ON - The Collingwood Museum is pleased to announce the latest addition to its Community Collectors exhibit series, Growing Roots: The Legacy of...

    Gerry Cheevers, 84 Years Old! Sharp as a tack! – talks about Orr, Esposito and winning Stanley Cups!

    Boston Bruins legend, Gerry Cheevers, joins us to talk about his Hall of Fame Career. Great insight on Bobby Orr and Esposito and winning...

    Mercedes Chan shares: The Coolest AI Updates of 2025

    Hey there, tech enthusiasts! It’s 2025, and artificial intelligence is moving faster than a viral TikTok dance. From chatbots that sound like your best...

    Join the Affordable Housing Task Force in celebrating YIMBY Week (Yes In My Back Yard) 

    Collingwood, ON - Neighbours say Yes In My Back Yard in support of affordable housing! Join Collingwood’s Affordable Housing Task Force in celebrating YIMBY...

    Frankie Malloy shares “Lets Find a Forever Home for Oakley and Leroy”

    Meet Oakley Oakley is a 6 years, 6 months old male Medium Mixed Breed who weighs 31 kilograms. Hi Friends, I'm Oakley! I'm a 6.5-year-old handsome guy who loves learning and keeping my...

    Kitch Deville Jr. shares “The Worst 3 Pickleball Kitchen Errors (And How to Fix Them)”

    Struggling at the pickleball kitchen? You're probably making one (or all) of these 3 critical mistakes—and they’re costing you points every game. In this...

    It May Be Hard to Believe, but People Actually Live in These Houses

    ▽ It May Be Hard to Believe, but People Actually Live in These Houses From unique architectural designs to extreme locations, these extraordinary houses...

    County and partners work together to prepare for emergencies across the region

    Minister Dunlop and Warden Clarke thank local emergency responders for their quick action during spring ice storm Midhurst/October 20, 2025 – Last week, Minister Dunlop and...

    Custom Designed Home for Sale | Edmonton, Alberta

    $1,050,000 | 11030 122 ST NWEdmonton, Alberta T5M0B2 MLS® Number: E4384806 Call Peter B. Taylor | Associate - 780-916-7653. MaxWell Progressive | 5560 Windermere Blvd SW |Edmonton,...

    Collingwood Blues Tailgate CELEBRATION Party | The Legion | 10 am, Saturday

    ATTENTION BLUES COUNTRY... With the threat of bad weather on Saturday afternoon. The BBQ Tailgate Time has been nudged ahead to start at 10 am running...

    OJHL HALL OF FAME SET TO ANNOUNCE CLASS OF 2025

    Second group of members be inducted during May ceremony Mississauga, ON – ….  The Ontario Junior Hockey League (OJHL) Hall of Fame is set to...

    Eddie Bullen & Quincy Bullen – A tribute to Frank McNulty – Jazz and Blues LIVE at the Station

    Wednesday, July 31st from 6 PM - 8 PM Eddie Bullen & Quincy Bullen will honor Jazz and Blues founder Frank McNulty at The Station...

    Gas fuels the climate problem, not the solution

    Throughout its life cycle, it devastates landscapes, pollutes waterways, uses excessive amounts of water (often in drought-stricken areas), consumes massive volumes of energy

    EMERGENCY CREWS CONTINUE CLEANUP EFFORTS THROUGHOUT THE REGION

    (Orillia, ON) - Members across Central Region of the Ontario Provincial Police have been busy with increased calls for service due to the freezing rain...

    Ask Gracelyn: Your love detective, navigating modern relationships while keeping your sanity, humour, and dignity.

    Dear Gracelyn: What are the red flags I should watch for in a new relationship? Cathy B. - Town of The Blue Mountains Hi Cathy... Relationship red...

    Let’s Support Our Collingwood Cruise Sr B Lacrosse Club 

    The Collingwood Cruise is a Senior B Lacrosse team based in Collingwood, Ontario, Canada.  The team is known for its history and is currently part...

    The Hudson’s Bay Company: From Fur Trade Empire to Modern Retail Challenges

    North America's Oldest Commercial Enterprise The Hudson's Bay Company (HBC) was established on May 2, 1670, with a royal charter from King Charles II, granting...

    David Suzuki | High hopes for hemp?

    High hopes for hemp? By David Suzuki Hemp has been promoted as a solution to a wide range of environmental issues — as an alternative to...

    Jan 1st Apres Ski Social Club – Start 2025 with Music, Wellness, and Winter Magic!

    Apres Ski Social Club Start 2025 with Music, Wellness, and Winter Magic! 🎿 Apres Ski Social Club 🎉 Celebrate New Years Day! Kick off the new year and...

    Local CFL Legend Rudy Florio attends Grey Cup Reunion: 1974

    Thank you to Susanne Mikler for sharing this with us! It’s the 50th anniversary of the Montreal Alouettes Grey Cup win in 1974. The team...