By Paul Binner and Lisa Binner, Master Beekeepers

Many of us who are 25 years or older, can remember as a child, waltzing merrily through a lush green meadow on a warm sunny springtime afternoon and seeing countless honeybees traveling from flower to flower. They were busily going about their life’s work (a mere six weeks), visiting yellow dandelions, white Dutch Clover, and pink Cherry Tree blossoms. From each blossom they gathered nectar and pollen. You did not bother them, and they did not bother you, unless you stepped on them! These industrious creatures carried their harvest home to make honey for you and your family.

Today, you can notice the absence of honeybees and may wonder why. We don’t see feral (wild) honeybees any more. Since the mid-1980’s, when parasitic tracheal mites and Varroa mites were first introduced to North America, thousand of colonies and millions of wild honeybees have died. The occasional honeybee we see today is most likely from a local beekeeper’s hive or swarm. Today’s beekeepers have learned effective controls for parasites and associated illnesses that afflict honeybees.

Wide spread uses of herbicides on lawns and agricultural fields have destroyed many wildflowers and plants along our roads and highways. Many lawns and gardens have become completely devoid of the most important early nectar and pollen food source for honeybees: the dandelion! Insecticides used on our lawns and in our gardens and orchards have polluted streams, rivers, and underground water supplies. The chemicals are now entering our food chain, affecting human health and well being. Rachael Carson’s predictions of forty years ago are becoming a reality. Insecticides contribute significantly to the destruction of our honeybees and other desirable insects.

“I don’t eat honey. Why should I be concerned?” some people ask. Honeybees not only pollinate one third of our food supply, they are also a vital link in maintaining the ecological balance of our wildlife and natural ecosystems. Honeybees are the major pollinators of wild plants, which in turn supply food and habitat for wild animals. The role of honeybees in the food chain of wildlife is obvious. Many fur-bearing animals are directly dependent on various pollinated fruits, e.g., wild plums, cherries, and crabapples, mulberry, raspberry, blackberry, and dewberry. Besides being a food source, these fruit bearing plants furnish protective cover and nesting sites for wildlife.

At the Parkville Nature Sanctuary, one of the best den trees for raccoons, opossums, and squirrels is the Basswood, or American Linden tree. Basswood trees require bee pollination. Because of its soft wood, basswood forms hollows very easily, providing homes for birds and animals. Wild turkeys and squirrels depend on acorns and hickory nuts. Locust trees and Sumac provide additional food sources for other animals. Honeybees pollinate all of these trees. We can clearly see a vital inter-dependent relationship between wildflower, wildlife, and honeybee pollination for a healthy ecosystem.

Have you noticed? Native wildflowers are not plentiful in the meadowland of our Nature Sanctuary. Future plans, in conjuction with the Missouri Department of Conservation, call for the reestablishment of native wildflowers and a native short-grass prairie area. Biennial yellow sweet clover and biennial white sweet clover is found in some parts of the diverse ecosystems of our Nature Sanctuary. Both clover plants provide excellent cover and concealment to meet the nesting and brood development needs of quail, grouse, pheasants and other ground nesters. The sturdy stems of second year plants provide winter brush and wind protection. Growth in the spring and summer of the second year plants has been found to provide a substantial amount of greens consumed by the birds. In addition, our deer population finds the sweet clovers provide excellent and nutritious forage.

The sweet clovers belong to the leguminous family of plants that release nitrogen into the soil. Consequently they are considered the greatest soil builder known. There was a time in the history of our country when thousands of unfertile farms were abandoned by their owners. The farms were abandoned because the land became overworked, unproductive, and in a state of acute erosion. It was the sweet clovers pollinated by honeybees that rejuvenated and nourished our poor soil conditions.

In conclusion, honeybees are indicators of our well being; they are the “mine shaft canaries” of our environment. Dwindling honeybee populations warn us of growing environmental problems. We must protect these amazing creatures, the only insects that provide us with a delectable and healthful food. Their pollination work will help to ensure our future food supply. Today, if you read the fine print on the labels of most honey jars purchased from the supermarket, you will see that its country of origin is China, Argentina, Mexico, Chile or other countries. We can import honey, but we cannot import pollination!

What better reason can there be to let the dandelions bloom?

(Editor’s note)

Paul Binner and 13-year old daughter Lisa are local beekeepers who are members and supporters of the Parkville Nature Sanctuary. Their family has been beekeepers since 1431 in the Lake Constance alpine region of Germany, Switzerland, and Austria.

For further information about honey and honeybees, they recommend visiting the web site of the National Honey Board, www.honey.com. The Binners can be reached at their e-mail address: alpinbe@beetown.com.