Much of British Columbia faced a drier spring than usual this year, a situation that experts and honey producers warn could negatively impact pollinators. Elaine Sedgman, a bee enthusiast and gardener in Kamloops, has observed a decrease in native bee activity around her flowers this season. Sedgman, who volunteers with the Native Bee Society of B.C., documents sightings of native bee species to support research efforts.
Wild bee populations across North America are declining, with climate-related events like droughts posing a significant threat to the plants that pollinators depend on. In British Columbia, nearly 500 bee species are at risk due to consecutive years of droughts and heatwaves, notably the 2021 heat dome.
As of the end of June, the B.C. Drought Information Portal reported that 27% of the province was experiencing some level of drought, an improvement from the 40% recorded in May. Caleb Bryan, a behavioral ecologist, explains that ground-nesting bees in B.C. are particularly vulnerable to droughts as the dry and hardened soil makes nest excavation and maintenance challenging.
Drought-stressed plants produce less nectar, affecting the quantity and quality of food available for bees. Changes in flower signals under water stress make it harder for bees to locate and pollinate flowers effectively. Emily Huxter, owner of Wild Antho bee farm in North Okanagan, highlights that fluctuations in nectar quality and quantity due to plant stress can lead to reduced honey production.
Huxter expresses concern about the impact of this spring’s drought on honey production and awaits the upcoming honey flow season to assess the situation. To support bee populations, Bryan recommends planting a variety of native flowering plants that bloom throughout the seasons to ensure a stable food supply for both honey bees and native bee species.
