Celebrate World Honey Bee Day

The Fascinating Role Honey Bees​​ Play in our Environmental Ecosystem

Bees are everywhere. In 2023, researchers confirmed over 20,700 bee species have been identified worldwide, making them more prolific than all the world’s bird and mammal species combined. Globally ubiquitous, bees are not isolated to a specific climate or country. With the exception of Antarctica, they can be found on every continent. From cities to rural communities and forests to deserts, where you see insects, you’ll find bees. Unsurprisingly, the prolific reach of this insect has resulted in its vastly differing appearances and functionalities. From the world’s smallest bee, the Perdita minima, to the largest bee, the Megachile pluto, to the colorful Blue Orchard Mason Bee, bees come in all shapes, sizes, and colors.

Volumes could be written on each bee species' unique traits and skills. However, in honor of World Honey Bee Day, today’s focus will be on a small subset of bees: the subset that produces honey—the honeybees. 

When Is World Honey Bee Day? 

World Honey Bee Day, celebrated annually on the third Saturday of August, was established by beekeepers in the United States in 2009. Not to be confused with World Bee Day, a United Nations-designated holiday observed on May 20th, this special day was created to recognize the crucial role honey bees play in our ecosystem, agriculture, and food production. It aims to raise awareness about the threats these vital pollinators face and to promote sustainable beekeeping practices.

At Collin Street Bakery, this day holds particular significance as we proudly use all-natural honey in crafting our most iconic cakes, including the beloved DeLuxe® Fruitcake and Texas Pecan Cakes. Honey not only enhances the flavor profiles of our creations but also symbolizes our commitment to quality and sustainability. In this article, we hope to honor the hard work of bees and beekeepers alike and to highlight how their honey enriches the taste and essence of our celebrated confections. 

The Diversity of Bees: Not All Bees Produce Honey

Not all bees produce honey. Only a small subset of bees produce honey with an even smaller subset producing enough for harvestable consumption. The most well-known honeybees are from the genus Apis and include the western honey bee (Apis mellifera), the eastern honey bee (Apis cerana), the giant honey bee (Apis dorsata), and the dwarf honey bee (Apis florea). Except for the western honey bee, all these species originate from Asia. Their global introduction marks their importance to agriculture and honey production.

Western Honey Bee (Apis mellifera) 
Originating from Europe, Africa, and parts of Asia, the western honey bee is the most widespread and well-known honey-producing bee. They are highly adaptable and have been introduced to almost every continent. Apis mellifera is known for its highly organized social structure, with colonies that can number in the tens of thousands. A single colony can produce between 30 to 60 pounds (13 to 27 kilograms) of honey annually, depending on the climate, forage availability, and colony health.

Eastern Honey Bee (Apis cerana) 
Native to southern and southeastern Asia, the eastern honey bee is similar in appearance and behavior to the western honey bee. Apis cerana is known for its ability to cope with the local parasites and diseases of its native regions. These bees produce less honey compared to their western counterparts, usually around 6 to 10 pounds (2.7 to 4.5 kilograms) per year. However, they play a crucial role in pollinating crops in their native habitats.

Giant Honey Bee (Apis dorsata) 
Found in South and Southeast Asia, the giant honey bee is named for its large size, with workers reaching up to 20 millimeters in length. Apis dorsata builds large, open-air nests on tall trees and cliffs. Despite their formidable appearance, they produce relatively modest amounts of honey, around 10 to 15 pounds (4.5 to 6.8 kilograms) annually. Harvesting honey from these bees is often risky due to their aggressive nature and the challenging locations of their nests.

Dwarf Honey Bee (Apis florea) 
The dwarf honey bee is the smallest of the honey-producing bees, native to South and Southeast Asia. These bees construct small, single-comb nests in shrubs and trees. Apis florea produces minimal amounts of honey, typically less than 2 pounds (0.9 kilograms) per year. Despite their low honey yield, they are essential pollinators in their ecosystems.

Non-Honey Producing Bees
Most bee species do not produce honey. These include solitary bees like mason bees, leafcutter bees, and carpenter bees, as well as social bees like bumblebees, which produce only small quantities of honey for their immediate consumption. Solitary bees do not form colonies or build large nests. Instead, each female constructs her own nest and provisions it with nectar and pollen for her offspring.

• Bumblebees: While bumblebees are social and live in colonies, they do not produce honey in significant amounts. Bumblebee colonies are much smaller, typically consisting of a few hundred individuals. The small amount of honey they produce is used to feed the colony, especially the queen and her brood.
• Carpenter Bees: Carpenter bees are solitary and do not produce honey. They are named for their nesting behavior, where they excavate tunnels in wood to lay their eggs. Each female carpenter bee creates her own nest and gathers pollen and nectar to provision her larvae.
• Mason Bees & Leafcutter Bees: These solitary bees are excellent pollinators but do not produce honey. Mason bees use mud to construct their nests, while leafcutter bees use cut leaves. Both types of bees lay eggs in individual cells within their nests and provision them with pollen and nectar.

Honey Bee Importance

Honeybees play an irreplaceable role as pollinators in our agricultural ecosystems. They are vitally important to the continued production of food staples such as apples, almonds, and blueberries, just to name a few. According to research conducted by The Bee Conservancy, a group founded in 2009 by Guillermo Fernandez and dedicated to “protecting all bees and securing environmental and food justice through education, research, habitat creation, and advocacy”, bees are responsible for pollinating 1 out of every 3 bites of food eaten.

However, the importance of bees as pollinators extends far beyond the continued proliferation of consumable food; they are also responsible for the pollination of more than 80% of the world's flowering plants. To understand why this statistic is significant, we’ll need to have a top-level understanding of plant biology.

Flowers aren’t just the beautiful splashes of color we add to our gardens. They are a key part of plant reproduction, as they contain both a plant's male and female reproductive organs. Therefore, the purpose of a plant’s flower is to allow pollination to occur, which involves transferring pollen from the male anthers to the female stigma. Once pollinated, a fertilized embryo develops into a seed. These seeds are then disbursed by wind, water, or animals, falling onto soil away from their parent plant, resulting in the propagation of that plant species. 

According to a 2023 article published in the National Science Review, 90% of the world’s plants rely on this method of reproduction to survive. As stated above, not all these plants produce food for human consumption, yet their continued presence prevents soil erosion, increases carbon sequestration, and supports the production of fibers and oils. Sunflowers, alfalfa, buckwheat, flax, canola, and safflower are all pollinated by bees and their byproducts are used in the creation of linens, animal feeds, biofuel, and cosmetics.

Honey Bee’s Economic Impact

In the United States, the economic impact of honey bee pollination is estimated to exceed $15 billion annually, underscoring their importance to food production and the economy. Honey bees pollinate a variety of food staples crucial to the American diet including but not limited to the following:

• Almonds: California's Central Valley accounts for roughly 80% of the world's almond supply and is valued at over $6B annually. Almond trees are entirely dependent on honey bee pollination for nut production.  
• Apples: Apple orchards across the U.S., particularly in Washington, New York, and Michigan, rely on honey bees for pollination. The United States’ annual apple product is valued at $3B with Washington State alone producing around 60% of the nation's apples.
• Blueberries: Maine, Michigan, and New Jersey are leading producers of blueberries. Honey bees are essential for high fruit sets and larger berries.
• Cherries: Cherry orchards located in Washington, Oregon, and California benefit significantly from honey bee pollination. This ensures high yields and quality fruit.
• Cranberries: Primarily grown in Wisconsin, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Oregon, and Washington, cranberries depend on honey bee pollination to maximize berry production.
• Melons: States like California, Texas, and Florida grow a variety of melons, including cantaloupes, watermelons, and honeydews, all requiring honey bee pollination for optimal yields.
• Squash & Pumpkins: Illinois, California, Indiana, and Ohio are major producers of squash and pumpkins. Honey bees enhance the fruit set and quality of these crops.
• Avocados: California is the leading producer of avocados in the U.S., with honey bees playing a crucial role in pollinating avocado blossoms.
  Sunflowers: North Dakota, South Dakota, and Minnesota grow the majority of the nation's sunflowers, which are pollinated by honey bees to produce seeds and oil.

The economic contributions of honey bees extend beyond the direct pollination of crops. They enhance the yield and quality of fruits, nuts, and vegetables, leading to better market prices and increased income for farmers. The ripple effect of this productivity impacts the entire food supply chain, from regional to global markets, from processing and transportation to retail and export markets.

Honey Bee Lifecycle

The lifecycle of a honey bee is a fascinating journey through four stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. The queen bee lays eggs in honeycomb-shaped cells, with fertilized eggs developing into female worker bees or queens, and unfertilized eggs becoming male drones. This egg stage lasts about three days.

In the first three days after hatching, the larvae are fed royal jelly or apilak, a milky secretion made by worker honeybees and rich in carbs, protein, amino acids, fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals. On day four, queen larvae continue to receive royal jelly while worker and drone larvae are transitioned to a mixture called  "bee bread.” Made from pollen that has been moistened by a mixture of honey, nectar, bee saliva, and glandular secretions then fermented by microorganisms such as yeast, bacteria, and fungi, bee bread helps to complete the development of bees' hypopharyngeal glands, which, in turn, produce royal jelly.

Roughly nine days after being laid, the larvae spin cocoons and enter the pupal stage. Similar to how a caterpillar spins a cocoon and undergoes the impressive transition to a butterfly, during the pupa stage, bees transition from grub-like worms to bees. On day sixteen, the bee chews through the cocoon and wax sealing its cell and emerges fully formed into an adult honey bee.

Roles of Bees in the Colony

A honey bee colony is a highly organized society with each bee assigned specific roles that are essential for the survival and efficiency of the hive. These roles are determined through a combination of genetic factors, environmental conditions, and the age of the bees. Here are the primary roles:

• Queen Bee: The only fertile female in the hive responsible for laying eggs. During peak seasons, the queen can lay up to 2,000 eggs per day. The queen also produces pheromones that regulate the behavior and functioning of the hive, ensuring social harmony and cohesion.
• Worker Bees: Worker bees are sterile females and constitute the majority of the colony. Their roles vary depending on their age and the needs of the hive.
• House & Nurse Bees (1-2 weeks old): Young worker bees responsible for maintaining the hive, including cleaning, building honeycomb cells, and processing nectar into honey. Young worker bees also take care of the larvae, feeding them royal jelly, pollen, and honey.
• Guards (2-3 weeks old): Middle-aged worker bees responsible for protecting the hive entrance from intruders and predators.
• Foragers (3-6 weeks old): Older worker bees responsible for leaving the hive to collect nectar, pollen, water, and propolis, a resinous substance used to seal gaps in the hive.
• Drone Bees: Drones are male bees whose primary role is to mate with a virgin queen from another hive. They do not forage or participate in other hive activities. After mating, drones die, and those that do not mate are often expelled from the hive before winter.

How Honey is Made

The process of honey production is a complex and fascinating journey that involves various specialized roles within a honey bee colony. Each bee plays a crucial part in transforming nectar into the golden, sweet substance we know as honey.

The business begins with worker bees, or sterile females, leaving the colony and foraging for flowers rich in nectar. Using long, tube-like tongues called proboscis, worker bees extract nectar from flowers and store it in their ""honey stomach,"" a special stomach that can hold up to 70 mg of nectar. Once the worker bee's honey stomach is full, it returns to the hive where it regurgitates the nectar so it can be repetitively consumed and regurgitated by other worker bees. This exchange is a process called trophallaxis, and it marks the first step in converting nectar to honey. Trophallaxis continues till the water content of the nectar is reduced and enough stomach enzymes have been added to encourage the transition of the nectar’s sucrose to glucose and fructose. 

Once this transition has begun, the partially converted nectar is deposited into the honeycomb cells. Worker bees then fan their wings vigorously to create airflow, which helps evaporate the water content further. This evaporation process thickens the nectar, turning it into honey. Once the honey has reached the desired consistency and water content (around 17-18%), the worker bees seal the honeycomb cell with a wax cap. This wax capping preserves the honey, keeping it safe from moisture and contamination, allowing it to be stored indefinitely as a food source for the colony.

Health Benefits of Honey

Rich in antioxidants with antibacterial and antifungal properties, honey is not only a natural sweetener but also offers numerous health benefits. Consumption of honey can combat oxidative stress which has been linked to chronic conditions such as heart disease and cancer. Honey also helps fight infections, soothe wounds, and promote digestive health. Incorporating honey into your diet can enhance your overall well-being, providing a natural and nutritious alternative to refined sugars and artificial sweeteners.

Threats to Honey Bees

Due to various threats, bee populations have been declining at alarming rates. Understanding these threats is vital to implementing effective conservation strategies. From habitat loss and pesticide exposure to parasites, diseases, climate change, and agricultural practices, honey bees face numerous challenges that endanger their survival and, consequently, the health of our environment and food supply. Addressing these threats requires a multifaceted approach involving sustainable practices, research, public awareness, and policy changes.

Habitat Loss
Urbanization, agricultural expansion, and deforestation lead to the destruction of natural habitats, reducing the availability of forage plants and nesting sites. This loss of habitat limits the resources bees need to survive and thrive.

Pesticides
Pesticides, particularly neonicotinoids, are another major threat to honey bees. These chemicals, widely used in agriculture, can be toxic to bees, affecting their nervous systems and impairing their ability to forage, navigate, and reproduce. Pesticides can also contaminate pollen and nectar, exposing bees to harmful substances even when they feed on flowers.

Parasites & Diseases
Parasites and diseases significantly impact honey bee health. The Varroa destructor mite is one of the most destructive parasites, weakening bees by feeding on their blood and spreading viruses. Diseases such as American foulbrood and Nosema infections further compromise bee colonies, leading to reduced productivity and colony collapse.

Climate Change
Climate change poses a growing threat to honey bees by altering their habitats and the availability of floral resources. Changes in temperature and precipitation patterns can affect the timing and abundance of blooms, disrupting the synchrony between bees and their food sources. Extreme weather events, such as droughts and floods, can also directly harm bee populations and their habitats.

Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) 
Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) is a phenomenon where worker bees abruptly disappear from the hive, leaving behind the queen and immature bees. The exact cause of CCD is not well understood, but it is believed to result from a combination of factors, including pesticide exposure, parasites, diseases, and environmental stressors. Addressing CCD requires a comprehensive approach, including reducing pesticide use, managing pests and diseases, and improving bee habitats.

Efforts to mitigate these threats involve promoting sustainable agricultural practices, reducing pesticide use, conserving and restoring natural habitats, and supporting research on bee health and conservation. Public awareness and policy measures are also crucial in addressing the challenges faced by honey bees and ensuring their survival and continued role in pollination and ecosystem services.

Bee-Friendly Gardening

Creating a bee-friendly garden is a wonderful way to support local pollinator populations and contribute to the health of the ecosystem. When you begin planning your garden, start by considering a variety of flowers that provide nectar and pollen throughout all growing seasons. Certain flowers like lavender and crocus bloom early in the spring while sunflowers, bee balm, and coneflowers hit full bloom in mid-summer. And, don’t forget autumn! Goldenrod and asters are excellent plants that mature in fall and have a greater tolerance for cooler temperatures. 

Also, consider planting flowers in clusters. Bees are attracted to larger groups of flowers. Lastly, avoid hybrids. Many hybrid plants have been bred for showy flowers but may lack the nectar and pollen that bees need. If in doubt, find plants native to your area of the country. Regionally-specific plants are particularly beneficial as they are well-adapted to local conditions and attract native bee species. 

In addition to providing food, bees also need water for drinking and to cool their hives. You can create a shallow water source using a dish or birdbath filled with water. Place pebbles or marbles in the water to give bees a place to land and drink safely. Keep the water source clean and change the water regularly to prevent stagnation and the growth of algae. During hot weather, ensure there is always water available as bees need it most. Creating a small, damp mud area in your garden can also be beneficial, as bees use mud for building their nests and getting minerals.

To further support bees, avoid using chemical pesticides and opt for natural pest control methods. Providing shelter is also important. Leave some areas of the garden wild or add bee cafés to offer nesting sites for solitary bees. Adopting organic gardening practices helps ensure the health and safety of your bee population.

By selecting the right plants, creating accessible water sources, and maintaining a bee-friendly environment, you can turn your garden into a sanctuary for bees. This not only helps the bees but also benefits your garden through increased pollination and biodiversity. For more detailed guidance and plant lists, check out resources from local horticultural societies and environmental organizations dedicated to pollinator conservation.

As we celebrate the incredible honey bee and the vital role it plays in our world, it's a perfect time to indulge in the sweet rewards of their hard work. At Collin Street Bakery, we honor these remarkable pollinators by incorporating all-natural honey into our DeLuxe® Fruitcakes and Texas Pecan Cakes. Our commitment to quality ingredients means you can enjoy the unique flavor and health benefits of honey in every bite. Treat yourself to a slice of our artisanal cakes and savor the taste of nature’s sweetness while supporting the remarkable bees that make it all possible. Order your DeLuxe® Fruitcake or Texas Pecan Cake today and experience the delightful harmony of honey and baked perfection.