Native Bees: What Gardeners Need to Know

In the world of bees, honey bees get a lot of attention and right now, massive numbers of honey bees are disappearing. This phenomenon, known as colony collapse disorder, threatens both beekeeping operations and the pollination of crops and natural landscapes.

Although colony collapse doesn’t impact native bees (honey bees originated in Europe), the possible causes behind colony collapse, like pesticide use, habitat loss and disease, easily could. Native bee populations are seeing declines, though not as widely documented as those of honeybees, says Mace Vaughan, co-director of the Pollinator Conservation Program of the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation.