The bees' needs

It's been two months since I first saw news of the so-called Colony Collapse Disorder on the front page of the Tribune. The story (and the problem) has spread since then, but there still seems to be no clear indication of what factor(s) brought this situation to bear.

I was just out back in the Concentric Garden, taking note of what's sprouted or established itself. While I admired some new sunflowers in the central bed, I noticed a small bee land on the mulch and begin to dig its way below the surface. I knelt closer and watched it turn this way and that, as if trying to wedge itself through a jammed door. Finally, it ambled into another gap between the cedar chips. It didn't reemerge.

This observation provided clear evidence that there are bees living under the garden. I'd never heard of such a thing, but a quick perusal via Google showed that this is nothing new:

"Many ground-nesting bees are known as digger bees, mining bees, or sand bees. They excavate nests in the ground, leaving small mounds of soil aboveground. They often hide their nest entrances beneath leaf litter or in the grass. All digger bees are solitary, but some nest in dense aggregations. These bees pollinate a variety of plants. They are drab, solitary, and rarely noticed, yet they may be the most abundant wild pollinators in the field.

"There are many species of digger bees found throughout North America. Most of these bees are known only by their Latin binomial names, although they are sometimes referred to as polyester bees. When the females build their nests, they line them with a polymeric secretion that looks shiny and synthetic. This material is waterproof, highly resistant to decay, and protects larvae while they are in the ground."

Those descriptions came from the National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service, "Alternative pollinators: native bees". The rest of the page details methods, plants and tools to be used by gardeners and naturalists who want to attract and support wild (or feral) bees and other pollinating insects. Pollen bees, like the one below, represent alternatives for plant pollination (though not for large-scale crop production).

This is vital information to have because before CCD manifested -- and this was news to me -- 90% of wild honeybees in the US were killed by mites in the mid-90s. My Lady Friend heard that on a recent edition of "The Conversation", but I couldn't believe it until I saw reports myself. The program was entitled "Rented Bees Vital Cog for NW Farms" and it aired on May 23.