Interesting article showing the need for greater research and investment in protecting them yet more money goes to honey bee research.
Interesting article showing the need for greater research and investment in protecting them yet more money goes to honey bee research.
My apartment building hosts honeybees on the rooftop (as I think many apartments do)… and although it seems like a good thing - in that it contributes to allowing plants and animals to thrive in the middle of a city - perhaps it is actually not a good thing, because perhaps those bees are just using our support to muscle out other species that would otherwise be thriving. So that’s difficult.
I guess there are subtleties and complexities, and different things are good in different in different situations, and whether supporting honeybees is good or not depends on the overall strategy; and I personally really don’t know if these particular bees on our roof are worth supporting or not.
Do your best. Don’t let guilt get you down. Plant natives on your rooftop and around your building. If you have the time see what native pollinators (if any) visit your rooftop and drop a little info sheet perhaps in your neighbours mail boxes to educate them a little about the plight of our local pollinators, to whom we owe our first attention. Most people want to do what’s right but may not have the knowledge. Having honeybees on rooftops is a copy of what is done in the Northern Hemisphere but is not necessarily suitable or helpful here. If it is appropriate, you may be able to set up some native pollinator spaces and structures (which could be fun if you do it with others). There’s plenty of info about if you’re interested. Who knows, you could even attract the folks from Gardening Australia to help out and do a segment for their show. I am sure your situation is multiplied throughout our cities so it could be a win for many people and the little bugs.