Declining Honey Bees: Causes and How Gardeners Can Help Pollinators

Wild honey bee populations have crashed over the past decade due to tracheal and Varroa mites that impair breathing. Managed hives survive with beekeeper intervention, but feral colonies have no such protection. While native bees like bumblebees, carpenter bees, and ground bees help, they can't fully replace honey bees for crop pollination.

Dr. Keith Delaplane recommends planting season-long forage to support all pollinators. A succession of blooms from February (redbud) through November (aster) creates a pollinator-friendly landscape. Key plants include Carolina jessamine, ajuga, crimson clover, schip laurel, nandina, bee balm, chaste tree, sunflower, Verbena bonariensis, butterfly bush, glossy abelia, butterfly weed, Mexican sage, pineapple sage, and aster.