It's Everyone's Buzziness by Tanya Ellenburg-Kimmet

Have you heard the buzz? Bee populations are dwindling. Why should you care? Our daily activities depend on bees. “They are responsible for pollination of approximately 1/3 of the United States’ crop species” (EHSO).  “Perhaps 1/3 of our total diet is dependent, directly or indirectly” on pollination by insects. (Delaplane) There are other pollinators, such as butterflies and other flying, stinging, crawling critters. Scientists surmise that “honey bees are responsible for every third bite we eat.” (Delaplane). Crops pollinated by bees include “almonds, peaches, soybeans, apples, pears, cherries, raspberries, blackberries, cranberries, watermelons, cantaloupes, cucumbers, and strawberries.”(EHSO) Many of these would be possibly pollinated by other insects or other kinds of bees, but not in a commercially sustainable way. It is important that we do our part to help save the bees. Make sure that wasp traps are bee friendly (I have a paper bag bundled up to look like a wasp nest on my porch – the wasps and yellow jackets don’t like competition). Avoid toxic bug killers. Also, instead of destroying a nest that you see forming, contact bee keepers. They will gladly come and move the colony for you.

Contact: The Greene County Beekeepers Association http://www.gcbeekeepers.com/Pages/default.aspx
Or please text/call Shelley Gravenstine at (937) 689-2782 and she will contact you as soon as possible. Text is usually the best way to reach her. She is located in the Xenia/Caesar Creek area and will travel to surrounding areas of Centerville, Beavercreek, Fairborn, Bellbrook, etc.

Delaplane, Keith S. “On Einstein, Bees, and Survivial of the Human Race.” http://www.ent.uga.edu/bees/OnEinsteinBeesandSurvivaloftheHumanRaceHoneyBeeProgramCAESEntomologyUGA.html
EHSO. Environmental Health & Safety Online. http://www.ehso.com/FoodChainIssues_BeeColonyCollapse.htm