Urban Bees and Gardens

Dec 20, 2021 Diversity of flowers is a critical source of nectar for pollinators The buzz of bees in summer is quieter than it used to be. Other pollinators are also struggling to survive. These include butterflies, flies and moths. There are many reasons such species are in decline. But loss of food sources is a key piece of the puzzle. However, urban gardens can provide critical nectar supplies for pollinators. That’s the finding of a new study. Many pollinator studies focus …

Dec 20, 2021     In London, western honey bees travel shorter distances to find their meals in metropolitan areas than in agricultural ones.     A rich supply of gardens and decorative flowers provides ample nectar close to urban hives.     Adding native flowers and similar foraging hotspots near open fields would help support bees in intensively farmed areas. Despite living in a concrete jungle, London’s urban bees fly shorter distances to feast on nectar-rich flowers than their neighbors in the countryside—a …