Wild bees are important pollinators for plants and help to preserve biodiversity. But they share the fate of domesticated honey bees. They are under threat. What options do we have to support them? Klaus Heinzel examined these questions in his active workshop on wild bees. It was not just theory. The participants were able to get hands-on and build imaginative nesting aids.
The world of wild bees is diverse. There are around 20,000 species of wild bees worldwide. In Europe there are around 2,000 different species. And they all have one thing in common: they love freedom. They are so convinced of this that 90 percent of their species live as singles.
Their homes are very different. Most build underground caves. Only a quarter of wild bee species nest above ground. The really tough ones, like the carpenter bee, dig long tunnels in hardwood that are as thick as a finger. The lazy ones lay their eggs in empty snail shells, piles of stones or set up their homes in abandoned mouse burrows. The parasitic cuckoo bee goes even further. It uses the nests of other bees to lay its own eggs.
The mortar bee, which owes its name to its interesting nesting behavior, is particularly industrious. Unlike many other bee species, the mortar bee uses plant material to build its nests. It collects small stones, sand and earth, mixes them with saliva and forms a kind of mortar. It uses this mortar to seal the brood cells in which it lays its eggs.
Many bees are on the red list
Like their domesticated counterparts, wild bees are exposed to many threats and depend on protection. In Germany, over half of the 560 wild bee species are on the Red List of endangered species. More than 30 species are even threatened with extinction. In Hungary, the situation is unlikely to be much better.
The main causes of this are industrial agriculture, monocultures and pesticides. In addition, their habitat suffers from intensive agriculture, which often relies on rapeseed or other monocultures. The result is the loss of nesting sites and food. Wild bees need sufficient flowering plants with pollen and nectar. Many wild bee species are specialists and tied to certain nesting sites or food plants. Their low reproductive rate makes them vulnerable to changes in the landscape.
The decline in wild bees has far-reaching consequences: They are important pollinators for many plant species, including crops. Their pollination performance exceeds that of honey bees. It is therefore crucial to protect their habitat and take measures to ensure their survival.
Species-appropriate nesting aids
Busy work to create a species-appropriate home for the wild bees.
Klaus Heinzel explained in his presentation which measures we can take to support the hard-working pollinators. For example, by growing as many flowering plants as possible in our gardens, on the balcony or on the windowsill. Wild bees feed on nectar and pollen, so flowering flowers, herbs and shrubs are a valuable source of food.
It is helpful if we promote diversity and plant different types of flowers, shrubs and trees. The more diverse the plant world, the better for the bees. It is important to ensure that there are flowering plants all year round in order to provide a continuous source of food.
We should definitely avoid using pesticides, as these can be harmful to wild bees. Instead - says Klaus Heinzel - we can resort to natural pest control methods.
During the hot summer period, it is also important to set up water points such as shallow water containers with stones or flotation devices so that the bees can drink sufficiently.
One of the most important aspects of supporting wild bees is the creation of nesting places. In order not to get stuck in theory here, the second part involved intensive work with the help of saws, drills and screwdrivers. The concordiaNATURA foundation had provided extensive building materials and Klaus Heinzel led the participants in building species-appropriate housing.
In a good-humored and committed group, many imaginative nesting aids were created that not only meet the needs of the bees, but are also a real feast for the eyes in any garden. Now all that is left is to place them in a weatherproof location and close to food sources. The big buzz can begin...
Die Stiftung bedankt sich bei allen Teilnehmern für die Spenden und das engagierte Mitmachen. Ein besonderer Dank auch an die Firma Paersch Services Kft. für die Unterstützung in der Vor- und Nachbereitung und die Stellung der Räumlichkeiten und des wunderschönen Gartens.
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