Plight of Native Bees

_{Native furrow bees huddle under the only remaining upright prairie coneflower after a wildflower meadow was mowed.}

What is a Native Species?

A species is considered “native” if it originated within the local ecosystem.  It is considered “exotic” if it originated elsewhere.  In the Austin area, there are two main ecological zones that are generally divided by Interstate 35.  East of I-35 one encounters the gently rolling Blackland Prairie ecological zone.  It is characterized by deep, dark, clay soils.  Historically, this ecological zone was clothed in tall grasses and wildflowers with relatively few trees being found primarily along waterways.  West of I-35, one encounters the “hill country” or the Edwards Plateau ecological zone.  It is characterized by shallow soils over limestone and more diverse topography.  Historically, this ecological zone was a savannah with trees scattered throughout a landscape clothed in grasses and wildflowers.  Rugged canyons with spring-fed creeks supported dense Oak and Juniper woodlands.  As these ecological zones developed overtime, species that developed within them are considered “native”.

_{Nandina is a common exotic nursery plant that invades natural habitats.}

What is an Exotic Species?

A species that has been introduced (purposefully or accidentally) into an ecological zone is considered “exotic”.  Though the ecological impact of an exotic species can vary, many negatively affect local ecosystems. Exotic species often find their new home devoid of control mechanisms found in their original habitat.  As a result, such species may outcompete native species reducing native biodiversity.  Exotic species may also introduce diseases that spread into native populations, further reducing biodiversity.  These factors combine to make exotic species the biggest threat to ecological health in our city’s nature preserves and natural areas.

_{A mining bee “face to face”.}

Native Bees Need Conservation

Many native bees are declining. The European honey bee is the most abundant introduced bee on Earth.  Like livestock, it is an agricultural species actively managed for honey production.  In 2022, Texas had approximately 157,000 actively managed honeybee hives in production. An average hive is estimated to harvest an amount of nectar and pollen that native bees would have otherwise used to produce 110,000 offspring.  This interspecific competition combined with urban development, large-scale agricultural practices, pesticide use, and vegetation maintenance is taking its toll. As a result, over 115 species of native bees are listed as Species of Greatest Conservation Need by state wildlife agencies within the U.S.  Though honey bees have garnered media attention in recent years, it is our native bees that need conservation.