May is the bee month of choice. World Bee Day is celebrated on 20 May, while the last week of May has been renamed "Bee Week". In Belgium, Maai Mei Niet ("Don't cut the grass in May") is also currently being promoted. These actions do not come out of the blue. In recent years, more and more experts have been trying to create awareness about the importance of bees. Numerous articles have appeared in the media in recent months about the threat to these winged creatures. Indeed, it is crucial for our ecosystem to continue to protect both honey bees and wild bees.
Did you know that...
More than 360 bee species can be found in Belgium alone? Many of them are even endangered. The honey bee, which is kept by beekeepers, is a special case in this respect because it is not found in the wild. Besides honey bees, there are also wild bees, such as solitary bees, which are often forgotten. Research shows that these hard workers, which mainly collect pollen and less nectar than honey bees, are better pollinators than honey bees. They may be smaller in number, but they perform better: one solitary bee can replace up to 120 honeybee workers! It is therefore important to protect not only the honey bee population, but also that of wild bees. Together, they ensure a healthy and diverse natural environment.