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It's nice the possible detrimental aspect on native wild species gets brought to attention more especially given the biodiversity crisis. I didn't used to know
by stinos 6y ago
It's nice the possible detrimental aspect on native wild species gets brought to attention more especially given the biodiversity crisis. I didn't used to know anything about the matter until I met a biologist studying the rarer local species here and the negative effects of honey bee keeping is one of his pet peeves. As laid out shortly in the article, the general conclusion is that in the best case scenario honeybees don't have an effect on the others, but otherwise the effect is negative and on average it is probably negative. Surely this needs to be studied more, but with what is currently knownn it looks like it's not going to turn the positive way suddenly.
Which can lead to painful discussions. Around here there's been a bit of a rise in the past years of hobbyist beekeepers. Most of them truly believe they are doing something good for bees, plants, even biodiversity and are pretty dedicated in taking care of them, and really only with good itentions. But if you then tell them about the facts, well, you can imagine how you feel when you think you were doing good and it turns out to be possibly not so good at all. Some are just sad but accept. Others get enraged and straight out deny the science (without proper arguments).
- mymythisisthis 6y agoWhat do you think of these types of things https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gNncDK7MXHo/VRCXCXz6byI/AAAAAAAAJTo/UAeEseJeb2E/s1600/150322-2015-cnps-at-sf-flower-and-garden-show-008.jpg https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gNncDK7MXHo/VRCXCXz6byI/AAAAAAAAJ...
- stinos 6y agoDon't know a whole lot about it, but as far as I can tell it's pretty good. Normally when I see one it gets used heavily; the holes by all kinds of mason bees and the rest as shelter/housing for other insects. Only possible problem: the wood shouldn't be treated (as a precaution, not sure if there is actual impact of chemicals on the bees in it). And when birds like woodpeckers discover this it's a feast and they will empty the whole thing but that's sort of natural in that it's normal behavior. But a construction like this of course makes it extra easy for them. Can be circumvented with steel wire 10cm in front of it.
- dkmn 6y agoHaving a bee house (for mason bees) has worked very well for us. Harvesting the cocoons in fall helps prevent concentration and spread of parasites, so I find the split-and-drilled layered wooden blocks work very well and pay for themselves over time. I've heard some same the solid drilled wood, though cost-effective, can make the problem worse (they call them "bee tombs" though I suspect it's a bit hyperbolic). Agree with stinos about coarse bird mesh and using non-treated wood, but it hasn't been a problem for us.
- sansnomme 6y agoLocal biodiversity only truly matters if it is part of the food chain. The reason why we care about bees is because of the oversized impact they have on our food supply. Local biodiversity is hardly a priority if you are living in a city and all flora and fauna are manually maintained. The new condo building next door built on top of a green space would have a much greater effect on local biodiversity than a couple hundred amateur bee keepers.