# Comparative Analysis of Urban and Rural Ecosystems in the Context of Suitability for Honeybees
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* 1 Introduction
* 2.1 Poland, the number of bee colonies has reached 2.35 million [1], marking a 100% increase over the past two decades. This growth is accompanied by a 100% increase in the average density of colonies per unit area, which currently stands at 7.7 colonies/km\({}^{2}\). In comparison, the average density in the 27 EU countries is 4.8 colonies per square kilometer, which is higher than in China (approximately 1.3 colonies/km\({}^{2}\) if we consider only _Apis mellifera_) [2]. The density calculation for China considered the fact that 52% of China's area is covered by mountains [3], where bees are not used. In certain EU countries, the density of colonies per km\({}^{2}\) is higher than in Poland: Hungary (10.6), Greece (16.8), and Malta (19.2). Turkey, the third largest honey producer in the world after China and the EU, also has a high density of 11.1 colonies per km\({}^{2}\). All the above calculations are based on [4, 5]. It is a commonly held belief that the primary purpose of keeping honeybees is to produce honey. However, it is estimated that the benefits to humanity from bee pollination are significantly greater [6, 7, 8, 9]. In certain regions of the world, notably those engaging in intensive agricultural practices, bees face progressively challenging living conditions [10, 11]. In these regions, a decline in honeybee colonies has been observed for approximatelytwo decades, necessitating continuous reproduction to maintain the population levels of the colonies at a sustainable level [6; 12; 13; 14]. Inensively farmed appear to be increasingly less hostile to honeybees due to large-scale monocultures of crops that do not provide benefit to bees [14; 15; 16; 17], as well as a significant increase in the amount of insecticides used in agriculture for crop protection [14]. The occurrence of acute pesticide poisoning clearly demonstrates the negative impact of agriculture on bees. Research has demonstrated that bees exhibit resistance to low to moderate levels of pesticides present in their food [18; 19]. However, it remains challenging to discern sublethal effects in bees, particularly given that the _Varroa destructor_ mites are the primary determinant of bee health and longevity [19]. The high densities of bee colonies in some European countries, as well as the threats from the chemicalization of agriculture, mean that an increasing number of bee colonies are being kept in urban areas, where conditions are conducive to the survival of pollinators [20; 21]. Urban areas are characterised by a high diversity of nectar- and pollen-bearing plants, which bloom for extended periods, thereby providing food sources for insects. They have a warmer climate zone, which has been demonstrated to be conducive to the production of large quantities of nectar. An example of this phenomenon in Poland is _Robinia pseudoacacia_ L., whose flowers frequently undergo frost damage or fail to produce nectar. In the villages, aside from the cultivation of nectariferous crops, there is an absence of initiative to expand the forage base. Conversely, there has been a decline in bee forage, particularly those that start later in the season. Old roadside lime trees are being removed, and in forestry settings, _Robinia_ is being felled. Foresters regard this species as an invasive tree that is not conducive to effective forest management. The population of heather shrubs is declining, and these plants are reaching old age and producing low yields of nectar. This is largely due to restrictions on shrub regeneration management, such as through burning and cutting. The process of chemisation in agriculture has resulted in the potential risks associated with beekeeping in certain areas. In urban areas, there is either a complete prohibition on the use of pesticides or a significantly reduced scale of their application when compared with rural areas. In addition to their conventional commercial applications, urban apiaries also possess significant educational value.