Bees are insects and pollinators. A pollinator fertilizes plants and allows them to make seeds and reproduce. Butterflies are also pollinators. Both bees and flowers benefit from pollination. Bees collect nectar from flowers and the flowers are able to make even more flowers!

We know that bees pollinate plants, but why is that important? Because they help plants make more plants, they provide us with at least 70% of the fruits, vegetables, seeds, and nuts we eat. Imagine not being able to eat apples, cucumbers, almonds, or cherries!

Bees also help the rest of the living things around us. They are known as a "keystone species" because most animals and plants need them to live. If bees didn't pollinate plants, there wouldn't be as much oxygen in the air and there would be less food for everyone.

Bees are disappearing more every day. What's causing them to grow closer to extinction? Habitat loss, disease, pesticide use, and climate change are all reasons why their populations are getting smaller.

Habitat Loss

As humans build more, natural land is being taken away. Bees and other animals are losing their homes and food because of how invasive humans are.

Disease

Bees kept for agriculture are spreading diseases to our much-needed wild bees.

Insecticides

Insecticides are chemicals that are sprayed on plants to get rid of insects. Certain toxic chemicals remove flowering plants and poison the bees that try to pollinate them.

Climate Change

Climate change makes temperatures unpredictable and creates extreme conditions that hurt bees. Climate change is caused by burning fossil fuels (like driving in cars), farming, and removing forests.