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Study Finds Feral Honey Bees Outcompete Native Pollinators for Pollen

Researchers urge limiting honey bee hives on public lands to give native pollinators more resources.

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Overview

  • Experiments on black sage, white sage and distant phacelia showed feral honey bees remove about 80% of pollen on a flower’s first day.
  • Because of their size and social communication, feral honey bees now comprise 98% of all bee biomass in Southern California habitats.
  • Models suggest that if honey bee–harvested pollen and nectar were redirected, native bee populations could be up to fifty times larger.
  • Over two visits, honey bees strip more than 60% of available pollen from key native shrubs, leaving scarce resources for over 700 local bee species.
  • The authors recommend restricting hive placement in natural reserves and relocating non-native colonies to support native pollinator recovery.