"Bees and other pollinators, such as butterflies, bats and hummingbirds, are increasingly under threat from human activities. Pollinators allow many plants, including many food crops, to reproduce. Not only do pollinators contribute directly to food security, but they are key to conserving biodiversity - a cornerstone of the Sustainable Development Goals. They also serve as sentinels for emergent environmental risks, signaling the health of local ecosystems. Invasive insects, pesticides, land-use change and monocropping practices may reduce available nutrients and pose threats to bee colonies. Why this date for World Bee Day? May 20 coincides with the birthday of Anton Janša, who in the 18th century pioneered modern beekeeping techniques in his native Slovenia and praised the bees for their ability to work so hard, while needing so little attention." -- UN World Bee Day

Episode from UN News – CFAO Podcast - A world without bees would wipe out many staple crops, UN warns on World Bee Day

Air date: May 2019. 7 minutes. Web page for episode,

What would a world without bees look like? Their absence would mean no more coffee, apples, almonds, tomatoes and cocoa, to name just a few of the crops that rely on pollination for yield and quality. That’s one of the drivers behind World Bee Day being marked this year for only the second time, on 20th May. The UN Food and Agriculture Agency (FAO) is raising awareness about the importance of pollinators for ensuring the world’s food security. Charlotta Lomas spoke to FAO’s Abram Bicksler about sustainable agriculture practices that can help protect bees. [Additional article relating to this podcast can be found online]

Episode from TED Radio Hour – Why Are Bees Disappearing?

Air date: September 27, 2013. 11 minutes. Web page for episode.

Honeybees have thrived for 50 million years. So why have certain colonies started dying in droves in recent decades? Researcher Marla Spivak reveals four reasons with tragic consequences.

Episode 93 from PolliNation – Dr. Elina L Niño - Pollinating California Almonds

Air date: April 8, 2019. 34 minutes. Web page for episode.

Listen in to learn how growers can improve their pollinator effectiveness, the benefits of certain overwintering solutions, and the key to great queens. "I know there's a lot of talk about letting natural selection do it's thing, but we have to think about what we're doing. When we put the bee colony into a hive, it's no longer considered to be, in my mind, natural. So I think they definitely need some help." - Dr. Elina L Niño.

Episode from Science Friday - A Viral Battle In The Honey Bee Hive

Air date: May 1, 2020. 12 minutes. Web page for episode.

The coronavirus epidemic has certainly caused many humans to change behavior, like increasing handwashing and decreasing physical contact to slow the spread of the novel virus. That sort of defensive behavioral change isn’t unique to people, however. New research published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences indicates that honey bees infected with a virus may alter their behavior in ways that slow the spread of the infection. At the same time, infection with the virus may help the bees sneak into neighboring hives, potentially spreading the virus to new hosts.

Episode from Science Friday - Airport Apiaries, Now Boarding

Air date: February 27, 2015. 12 minutes. Web page for episode.

After you slide your bags past the scanner, put your shoes back on, and head down the airport concourse to your gate, take a moment to look outside. There’s a lot of open space at an airport—around the runways and next to the control tower, and as “buffer” land set up between the airport and nearby properties. And while that space may not seem like a great natural habitat, at several airports around the world, hundreds of thousands of creatures are now calling it home. We’re talking bees. The trend started in Germany several years ago, but now several U.S. airports also host beehives. Bob Redmond, a beekeeper and director of The Common Acre, says the success of the hives that his group manages at Sea-Tac airport in Washington State is a sign of an improved habitat for other native pollinators.

Episode from CITYSMART Sustainability in Action - Bee One Third, All About Bees

Air date: November 19, 2019. 8 minutes. Web page for episode.

Jack Stone is the founder of the Brisbane-based environmental enterprise Bee One Third which focuses on bringing honeybees back to the city. He talks about his business model of installing beehives on business rooftops and working with them to promote seasonal honey, raising awareness around the honeybee and the vital role that pollinators play in putting food on our tables.

Episode from NPR - Murder Hornets Invade Pacific Northwest, Threaten The Honeybee Population

Air date: May 4, 2020. 3 minutes. Web page for episode.

As if the pandemic and the economic meltdown aren't bad enough, now The New York Times informs us that murder hornets have arrived in the Pacific Northwest. Officially, the insect is called the Asian giant hornet. They can grow 2 inches long, and they have a habit of decapitating entire colonies of honeybees. They can also cause a lot of pain to humans. Beekeepers and entomologists are racing to find and wipe out any nests in the U.S. before the species can take hold. NPR's Ari Shapiro talks with beekeeper Ruthie Danielsen about the race to prevent the Asian giant hornets from getting a foothold in the U.S. and threatening the honeybee population.

Questions for discussion

[1] Which episode on this list was your favorite episode? Explain.

[2] Do you think a change in farming practices could be enough to save the bees? Or should we let natural selection take its couse?

[3] If beekeepers play such an important role in biodiversity and food security, why aren't more people amateur and professional beekeepers?

[4] What are some of the parallels between humans and bees, especially when it comes to coping with a virus?

[5] What do you know about what is being done in Philadelphia with regards to pollinators? What more could be done?