Pollination by honey bees
Also known as: honey bee pollination, bee pollination
Pollination by honey bees is the transfer of pollen between flowers as bees collect nectar and pollen; colonies are kept for crop yields as well as for honey.
Pollination by honey bees is the transfer of pollen from flower to flower that bees carry out while collecting nectar and pollen. Beekeeping, as the Encyclopedia of Modern Ukraine notes, yields not only honey, wax and propolis but also the pollination of insect-pollinated crops.
The IPBES assessment (2016) gives the key figures. Nearly 90 % of wild flowering plants depend at least in part on pollen transfer by animals. More than three quarters of the leading global food crop types rely to some extent on animal pollination for yield or quality, and pollinator-dependent crops make up 35 % of global crop production volume. Between 5 and 8 % of global crop production is directly attributable to animal pollination. The other 60 % of volume comes from crops that do not need pollinators, such as cereals and root crops.
More than 90 % of the leading crop types are visited by bees. The western honey bee is the most widespread managed bee, yet most of the 20,077 known bee species are wild. IPBES stresses that pollinator diversity improves pollination even where honey bees are abundant.
Honey plants work both ways here: the bee gets nectar for honey, and the plant sets fruit or seed.
Why this matters to you. Much of the fruit, berries, nuts and seeds on your table depends on pollinators; a hive next to an orchard or field is part of the harvest, not only a source of honey.
Facts
| Main use | Moving pollen between flowers; hives are also kept for crop yields |
|---|---|
| House range | More than 3/4 of leading food crop types benefit from animal pollination |
| Raw material | Flower pollen and nectar; bees visit over 90 % of leading crop types |
How it connects to Honey & beekeeping
Pollination by honey bees → kind of → Apiary and beekeeping → kind of → 🍯 Honey
Links
- Part of
- Apiary and beekeeping, Honey plants
- Similar and different
- Western honey bee
Frequently asked questions
What is pollination by honey bees?
The transfer of pollen between flowers that bees carry out while collecting nectar and pollen.
How many crops depend on pollinators?
According to IPBES, more than three quarters of the leading global food crop types, at least in part.
What share of production does it bring?
5–8 % of global crop production is directly attributable to animal pollination (IPBES).
Is it true that honey bees alone are enough for pollination?
No. IPBES notes that pollinator diversity improves pollination even where honey bees are abundant.
Do cereals need pollinators?
No. Cereals and root crops do not depend on pollinators; they make up about 60 % of crop volume.
Sources
- IPBES (2016): Summary for policymakers of the assessment report on pollinators, pollination and food production
- Encyclopedia of Modern Ukraine: Beekeeping (Bodnarchuk, Movna, 2003)