Much of British Columbia experienced a drier spring than usual this year, a situation that researchers and honey producers warn can harm pollinators. Bee enthusiast and gardener Elaine Sedgman 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., monitors and documents sightings of native bee species for research purposes.
Wild bee populations in North America are declining, with climate-related events such as droughts posing a threat due to the stress they put on plant life that pollinators depend on. Approximately 500 bee species are estimated to inhabit British Columbia, facing challenges from consecutive years of droughts and heat waves, notably the 2021 heat dome.
According to the B.C. Drought Information Portal, by the end of June, 27% of the province was experiencing some level of drought, an improvement from the 40% reported in May. Behavioral ecologist Caleb Bryan explains that ground-nesting bees in British Columbia are particularly vulnerable to droughts because dry and hardened soil makes nest excavation and maintenance challenging. Droughts also reduce shade for nesting bees, impacting their population sustainability.
Bryan highlights that drought-stressed plants produce less nectar, with altered sugar ratios and concentrations, affecting the quantity and quality of nectar and pollen. Drought stress can also alter the signals plants send to bees, making flowers harder to locate and less appealing to pollinators.
Emily Huxter, owner of Wild Antho bee farm in the North Okanagan, notes that changes in nectar quality or quantity due to plant stress often lead to reduced honey production. The impact of this spring’s drought on honey production will be assessed in the coming weeks when the honey flow begins. To support bee populations, Bryan suggests planting a variety of native plants that bloom throughout the seasons to ensure an ample food supply for both honey bees and native bees.