I recently learned an interesting fact about Arizona. Over 1300 of the 5000 different types of bees native to the United States can be found in our state! There are about 20,000 species of bees worldwide, so we actually host more than 6% of all bee species on Earth!
Our native bees are a crucial part of our ecosystem. They do the best job of pollinating our native plants, as many of them have evolved alongside the plant species developing particular relationships with specific flowers. One way to support our native bees is to plant a pollinator garden or even just include one or two native flowering plants that pollinators are drawn to in your garden. Click here for a list of native plants for your pollinator garden.
Did you know that only two types of bees have been put to use producing honey and pollinating crops? That’s because most bees don’t make enough honey to be harvested; most native bees are actually solitary and don’t live in the hives. Native bees typically live below ground or in cavities produced by other animals (including humans). If you’d like to learn more about some of the most common bees in Arizona, click here to download an Arizona Bee Identification Guide.
If you prefer to keep bees away from your home, here are a few tips:
- Fill holes ⅛ inch or larger in walls, and structures with voids inside. Use a good quality sealant to fill all cracks or gaps in walls, rooflines and around foundations.
- Eliminate water sources. Promptly repair leaks in outdoor water taps and irrigation systems.
- Gather and discard fruit dropped from trees regularly.
- Cover food when eating outdoors, especially sugary, sweet-smelling foods and drinks.
- Keep Trash receptacles closed
RESOURCES:
https://dbg.org/native-bees/
https://extension.arizona.edu/bee-resources
https://www.pollinator.org/pollinator.org/assets/generalFiles/AZ_bee_guide_FINAL.pdf
https://wateruseitwisely.com/blog/take-walk-wild-side-garden-wildlife/
