Peapix

  • Bing Gallery
  • Extension
Peapix
Bing Gallery
Extension
  • United States
    All
    Australia Canada China Germany France India Japan Spain United Kingdom United States Italy Brazil

Bing Gallery

Australia Canada China Germany France India Japan Spain United Kingdom United States Italy Brazil
  1. Bing Gallery
  2. United States
  3. 2022
  4. May 20
  5. Honey bee flying over crocuses in the Tatra Mountains, Poland
arrow_back_ios arrow_forward_ios Honey bee flying over crocuses in the Tatra Mountains, Poland

May 20, 2022

Honey bee flying over crocuses in the Tatra Mountains, Poland

© Mirek Kijewski/Getty Image

Something to 'bee' thankful for. World Bee Day

It's World Bee Day, and we're doffing our caps in thanks to the world's lesser known 'essential workers.' According to the UN, three out of four crops across the globe producing fruits or seeds for use as human food depend, at least in part, on bees and other pollinators. And tens of thousands of flowering plants, like the crocuses in today's photo, would not exist if it weren't for the little buzzers. A quote often misattributed to Albert Einstein suggests humans would have only four years left to live if the bees go extinct. No matter who said it, the message is clear: Our livelihood is intimately tied to the survival of bees. And that connection is of critical importance now, as bee colonies continue to struggle after more than 20 years of mass die-offs, a phenomenon known as colony collapse disorder.

The good thing is that many people are actively working to reverse this trend. The hobby of beekeeping has skyrocketed in recent years, even in urban areas. Bees suffer in some rural agricultural areas where the wildflowers they depend on have largely disappeared due to monoculture farming practices. Excessive pesticide use on farms is also harming bee populations. So, ironically perhaps, urban areas have greater plant diversity and lower pesticide levels, which makes cities often better habitats for beekeeping. 'City bees' are now said to be healthier and produce better honey than bees raised in farming areas.

In Slovenia, the country responsible for the World Bee Day initiative, beekeeping is a way of life. One out of every 200 people is a beekeeper, most of them amateurs. The Beekeeping Academy of Slovenia says the hobby teaches 'responsibility, perseverance, modesty, hard work, love of nature and homeland.' Plus, they get that honey. Now that's something to buzz about.

plant flower purple

Related Images

Common chameleonCommon chameleon
Plumeria flowers, HawaiiPlumeria flowers, Hawaii
Tulip fields in NetherlandsTulip fields in Netherlands
Tree frog, Costa RicaTree frog, Costa Rica
Superbloom in Carrizo Plain National Monument, CaliforniaSuperbloom in Carrizo Plain National Monument, California
Hobbit-hole in Hobbiton Movie Set, Waikato, New ZealandHobbit-hole in Hobbiton Movie Set, Waikato, New Zealand
Water lilies at the surface of Cenote Nicte-Ha, Tulum, MexicoWater lilies at the surface of Cenote Nicte-Ha, Tulum, Mexico
Spring daffodils glowing in morning lightSpring daffodils glowing in morning light

Today on Bing

Bee tending a honeycomb

Bee tending a honeycomb

May 20, 2024
European honeybees in Sheffield, England

European honeybees in Sheffield, England

May 20, 2023
A bee dives into a lotus flower at Kenilworth Park and Aquatic Gardens in Washington, DC

A bee dives into a lotus flower at Kenilworth Park and Aquatic Gardens in Washington, DC

May 20, 2021
Fields of lavender and sunflowers with beehives in Provence, France

Fields of lavender and sunflowers with beehives in Provence, France

May 20, 2020
Island fox on Santa Cruz Island, Channel Islands National Park, California

Island fox on Santa Cruz Island, Channel Islands National Park, California

May 20, 2019

Related Tags

flower plant outdoor sky landscape distance field grass tree butterfly insect invertebrate flora pink bloom windmill clouds sunset crowd animal
Share photo
Share
Pin
Tweet
Line
  • © 2025 Peapix.com
  • API
  • App
  • Privacy
The images are provided for wallpaper use only.