By John Monzingo, Assistant County Agent

Over the past few years, we’ve heard a lot about the decline in honeybee populations
across the United States. At first, I found myself wondering, “Why is this such a big
deal? What difference does it really make?” And if you know me, you know I can’t just
leave a question unanswered, I must dig in and find out.

To understand the importance of honeybees, I first had to learn a bit about how plants
reproduce. The key process? Pollination. So, what exactly is pollination? It’s the transfer
of pollen from the male part of a flower (the anther) to the female part (the stigma).

When this happens successfully, it leads to the production of seeds and
fruits—essentially, it’s how many plants create the next generation.

That led me to another question: How does pollen move from one flower to
another? The answer is pollinators. While wind can carry pollen (as anyone with spring
allergies knows), many plants rely on animals to do the job. Humans can even act as
pollinators just by walking through a field. But the most effective pollinators are insects
and animals like bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, bats, and even wasps. Among them,
honeybees are the most efficient and reliable.

Once I understood how pollination works, I could finally answer my original
question: Why are pollinators so important? According to the U.S. Forest Service, nearly
80% of all flowering plants depend on pollinators. That includes around 150 different
food crops. Without pollinators, our food supply and the ecosystems that support it
would be in serious trouble.

So, what can we do to help protect pollinators? Here are a few simple steps:

Limit chemical use to early morning or late evening when pollinators are less
active.

Read pesticide labels carefully to understand their impact on bees and other
beneficial insects.

Create pollinator habitats by planting native wildflowers, honeysuckle,
strawberries, and clover. You can also add flowering trees like dogwoods,
magnolias, and crape myrtles to your landscape.

By taking small actions, we can make a big difference in supporting
pollinators—and in turn, the plants and food systems we all rely on.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at 318-927-3110.
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