As superorganisms they harvest vast quantities of pollen, nectar,water and resins that were the past gathered by native bees and other pollinators. Thus, although honey bees are easy to manage and great pollinators, there are times when they have negative effects on natural ecosystems and parklands. Floral odors and colors . I've always been fascinated by the chemical and physical cues that lead bees to flowers. Bee chemicals .
Bees are chemists par excellence.
I have been studying the compounds in the mandibular and other exocrine glands of native bees. The Conservation of Bees . All over the world, we've lost many species of native bees. In Great Britain, at least half of the bumblebees have become extinct. Through conservation biology research in the U.S. and other countries, we can help avert a potential pollination crisis by planting pollinator gardens, growing pollinator friendly forage, using pesticides and herbicides wisely and creating more nest sites for wood and ground-nesting native bees.