Photos of a honeybee and a yellow jacket, and other insects, for comparison. Pesticides will not significantly harm bees, if properly used, but, when used in violation of the label directions, they can severely damage pollinator populations. Unfortunately, they often are misused. Two basic types of insecticides, and examples of their bee directions Editorial on Forgotten Pollinators , and Proposed Pesticide Label Changes , which will remove all protection for wild bees. My letter to Jim Bach of the committee evaluating proposed pesticide label changes.
Honeybees are our most important pollinators of commercial crops.
They are generalists, visiting many different species of plants. Once started, a field worker tends to be loyal to the species started. They also recruit their sisters to the same plants. However honeybees are short-tongued, making them of little value for some deep flowers such as red clover. Honeybees will sometimes work tomatoes, eggplant and other related plants, but they are not reliable on these crops.