Much of British Columbia (B.C.) saw a drier spring than usual this year, a condition that experts and beekeepers warn can negatively impact pollinators. Elaine Sedgman, a bee enthusiast and gardener in Kamloops, observed a decrease in native bees visiting her flowers this season. Sedgman, who volunteers with the Native Bee Society of B.C., documents native bee sightings for research purposes.
Wild bee populations in North America are declining, with climate-related events like droughts affecting the plants essential for pollinators. In B.C., where approximately 500 bee species reside, consecutive years of droughts and heatwaves, notably the 2021 heat dome, have raised concerns.
As of the end of June, the B.C. Drought Information Portal reported that 27% of the province was facing some level of drought, an improvement from 40% in May. Ground-nesting bees in B.C. are particularly vulnerable to droughts, as per behavioural ecologist Caleb Bryan. Droughts harden soil and vegetation, making nest excavation challenging and reducing leafy shade for nesting bees, impacting their population sustainability.
Drought-stressed plants produce less nectar, which can differ in sugar content, affecting the food supply for bees and hindering their growth. Additionally, drought stress alters flower signals, making flowers harder for bees to locate and less attractive.
Emily Huxter, a bee farmer in North Okanagan, highlighted that changes in nectar quality or quantity due to plant stress often lead to reduced honey production. The impact of this spring’s drought on honey production at Wild Antho bee farm will be evident once the honey flow begins in a few weeks.
To support bee populations, Bryan recommends planting a variety of native plant species that bloom throughout the seasons to provide ample food sources for honey bees and native bees.