A significant portion of British Columbia (B.C.) encountered a drier spring than usual this year, a situation that researchers and honey producers warn could negatively impact pollinators. Elaine Sedgman, a bee enthusiast and gardener in Kamloops, has observed a decline in native bee activity around her flowers. She is an active volunteer with the Native Bee Society of B.C., where she documents sightings of native bee species for research purposes.
Wild bee populations across North America are dwindling, with climate-related events like droughts posing a threat by straining the plants essential for pollinators. The nearly 500 estimated bee species in B.C. are particularly concerned due to consecutive years of droughts and heatwaves, notably the 2021 heat dome event.
As of the end of June, the B.C. Drought Information Portal reported that 27% of the province was under some level of drought, showing an improvement from the 40% figure in May. Caleb Bryan, a behavioral ecologist specializing in wild bees, explains that ground-nesting bees in B.C. are especially vulnerable to droughts as the dry and hardened soil makes nest excavation and maintenance challenging.
Additionally, drought-stressed plants produce less nectar with altered sugar ratios and concentrations, affecting the quantity and quality of food supply for bees. Changes in flower signals under water stress can make it harder for bees to locate and feed on flowers effectively.
Emily Huxter, a third-generation bee farmer from the North Okanagan, highlighted that fluctuations in nectar quality or quantity due to plant stress can lead to reduced honey production on farms like hers. The impact of the spring drought on honey production will become clearer once the honey flow period begins in a few weeks.
To support bee populations, Bryan recommends planting a diverse range of native plant species that bloom throughout the seasons to provide ample food sources for both honey bees and native bees.
