Do you know about the blue bee, which lives underground! There are 20,000 species of bees in the world, most of which are underground and solitary. We only know Honeybee. Millions of children in thousands of schools read about honeybees only in their biology books. That is, those that are many together and make honey. They have various commercial businesses around the world. Honey has long been valued for its medicinal properties. That's why we pay more attention to bees that make honey, or only to what is taught in books. Bees make honey to feed their families and babies. Bees do another thing that gives us food and clothes to wear; the whole world eats, that is, 'pollination'. No one will die without eating honey, but if pollination stops, the pantry will be a mess. Its effect is starting to show, but we are realising it very late!
The one seen in the picture is the Blue Banded Bee (Amigilla). While working in the field in the Sundarbans, I saw it on the bright yellow flowers of a salt/smooth tree (a plant of the Cucurbitaceae family). This is a female bee. These female bees build horizontal or vertical nests under the ground. They make their nests by moistening and softening the soil with their saliva. They pile the excavated soil in one place. They use that pile of soil as a door to some fort. They also make a hole in that pile so that air can come in from outside. Apart from this, he also protects the swarm bee nest from external enemies. As the cuckoo lays its eggs in the crow's nest, a bee called the cuckoo bee lays its eggs in their nest. This is an example of external trouble!
These blue-banded bees nest alone, but they build their nests in the same place, on the same side. As a result, a village of bees is formed. Being close to each other is easier for many reasons. They nest in a variety of soils, from the ground to fields, deserts, and beaches. Brood cells or brood chambers are built underground. The queen bee waxes the chamber so that the chamber does not get wet with water or soil sap. The mother bee makes food from the nectar and pollen of the flowers and lays eggs in each chamber.
Blue banded bees can do buzz pollination, which most bees or our familiar honey bees, can't. Anthers of some flowers are called poricidal anthers, in which the pollen is released through a very small opening. Pollen does not leave the flower until it is moved by a special pectoral muscle that has acquired special abilities through co-adaptation over billions of years. Blue bees move the flower and shake the pollen out of the flower. Then other bees can take those grains. Otherwise, it is impossible for someone else to pollinate these flowers! Pollination of brinjal, chillies, and tomato flowers used in our kitchen should be like this; otherwise, the yield will be so low that we will not be able to enjoy brinjal stew, brinjal bhaji, fried brinjal with drops, different recipes of tomatoes or various raw chillies or pickled chillies!
Bees live underground, so you can understand that if you repeatedly run heavy machinery on the ground, if you constantly add fertilisers and poisons, they will all die, even the eggs and larvae. They are dying. But they have grown up with different skills that bees don't have. We didn't know from our school science books that there are so many bees in the world. Many of them live alone and underground. Why were we not told about it? This question comes to mind again and again. Right? Were these books and syllabuses just designed to teach us instant pros and cons numbers?
Artificial breeding of bees in hives cannot save so many bees in the world. For example, keeping chickens or birds in cages cannot save endangered bird species. The honey market throughout the country is mainly controlled by the European bee Apis mellifera, which was imported from abroad, like diseased rice and wheat during the Green Revolution. These imported foreign bees have flooded the country in lakhs, and these very important single native bees, which we do not know, are constantly fighting with them for water, food, shelter, etc. On the one hand, the country will be deforested, fields, lawns, and gardens will be cleared of herbicides, poisoned without thought, everything will be covered with concrete, and in the midst of all this, we will keep bees in boxes and save the world's endangered bees. This fight is clearly a fight against corporate, clearly political, because unless we stop the overuse of fertilisers, global warming, urbanisation and deforestation, the world's 2000 species of bees cannot be saved. Protecting bees' habitats and food sources is most important!
Bees, vital pollinators for global agriculture and biodiversity, are facing a serious decline worldwide. Several key factors contribute to this alarming trend. Habitat loss due to urbanisation, deforestation, and intensive farming reduces the availability of flowering plants and nesting sites. Pesticide use, particularly neonicotinoids, poisons bees and disrupts their navigation and reproduction. Climate change alters flowering seasons and weather patterns, disturbing bee foraging and colony cycles. Additionally, parasites and diseases, such as the Varroa mite and fungal infections, weaken bee populations. Monoculture farming further limits the diversity of food sources necessary for healthy colonies.
To conserve bee populations, several measures are essential. Promoting bee-friendly habitats with native flowering plants, restricting or banning harmful pesticides, and encouraging organic and sustainable farming are crucial steps. Supporting beekeeping practices, enhancing public awareness, and establishing pollinator corridors can strengthen local bee populations. Government policies and community participation together can ensure the long-term survival of bees—an indispensable link in maintaining ecological balance and food security.
A pollinator sanctuary is a dedicated habitat designed to support and protect pollinators—such as bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and other insects—that are essential for the reproduction of many plants, including over 150 food crops worldwide. These sanctuaries provide the necessary resources for pollinators to thrive, including food, shelter, and nesting sites, while minimising threats like pesticides and habitat loss.
Key features of a pollinator sanctuary include incorporating a variety of nectar-rich, native plants ensures a continuous food source for pollinators throughout the growing season. Native plants are particularly beneficial as they are adapted to local climate conditions and are more attractive to local pollinator species. Providing structures such as shrubs, trees, and even man-made features like bee hotels can offer shelter and nesting opportunities for pollinators. Avoiding the use of pesticides and herbicides is crucial, as these chemicals can be harmful to pollinators. Accessible water sources are important for pollinators, especially during hot weather. Planting a mix of early, mid, and late-blooming flowers ensures that pollinators have a consistent food supply throughout the year.
Pollinators play a vital role in ecosystems by facilitating the reproduction of plants, which in turn supports food production and biodiversity. However, many pollinator species are in decline due to factors like habitat loss, pesticide use, and climate change. Establishing pollinator sanctuaries helps mitigate these threats and provides safe havens for these essential creatures.
So, let us learn more about bees. Make people aware and make dangers of poison everywhere in villages and cities.