Native bee species in North America are under increasing pressure from habitat loss and competition with non-native honeybees, according to a May 22 statement. While honeybee populations have stabilized recently, many native bees remain at risk of extinction.
This issue is important because native bees play a vital role in pollinating crops and wild plants. Unlike the European honeybee, which was introduced by settlers, there are about 4,000 native bee species in North America. Many of these species are more efficient pollinators for certain crops and contribute significantly to ecosystem health.
Research indicates that while global honeybee colonies have increased by over 80 percent since the 1960s, many native bees continue to decline. In some studies, honeybees improved yields in only a small percentage of crop systems worldwide, suggesting that native bees may be better suited for pollination in specific cases. Twenty-eight percent of bumblebees across Canada, the United States, and Mexico fall into threatened categories.
Experts say that coexistence between honeybees and native species varies depending on local environments and resource availability. A single apiary can consume as much pollen as millions of wild bees annually. Most native bee species live solitary lives rather than forming hives; over ninety percent construct nests alone or use natural shelters like dead wood or rock crevices.
The lifespan of most native bees is about one year. Female bees lay eggs in individual cells within their nests before dying off; new adults emerge each spring to repeat the cycle.
Looking ahead, researchers stress the importance of preserving habitats for both ground- and stem-nesting bee species while limiting pesticide use and protecting nesting areas at home gardens or farms. Without support for these pollinators—both wildflowers’ reproduction and agricultural productivity could suffer.
