Bees

[Matheous]

If all bees were wiped out by whatever.....Would we eventually lose certain flower species?

[Matheous]

So they are essential for polinating
crops? Forgive my naevity - I'm not fully aware of the process involved.

Thanks for your answer though....

[sidkid]

Bees are necessary for pollination along with many other insects including the tens of thousands of different types of beetle. Also some bats and birds help with pollination as well....

[brenda]

Agree totally with Trimeresurus.

[jjaammeess]

We depend on bees ---so no bees,no pollination,no green plants, no life.We all die

[sidkid]

Most members of the grass family (including wheat, barley, rye, rice, bamboo and corn) are wind pollinated and are not dependant on bees. The grass family feeds, directly or indirectly over 90% of the World's population.

[sidkid]

Life existed for millions upon millions of years before honey bees evolved and will continue long after they go extinct, whenever that happens

[boxtops]

That's why the beekeepers across the States and in the UK were so worried a couple of years ago when that bug was killing whole hives of bees - no bees, no crops - no crops, no food - no people.

[sidkid]

Err - please see post re wind-pollination 22:30 (I sometimes think I'm wasting my time......)

[Khandro]

All bees are not gonna be wiped out. It's another scare story to keep you awake at night.

[sidkid]

If they were wiped out, the only effect on the human race would be......no honey. Life would go on, as previously explained.

[wildwood]

It means that there would be no more clover in the lawn. Would that be a bad thing?

[Calibax]

sidkid is right that most of the staple crops which are grasses would be unaffected as they are wind pollinated. However most other flowering plants like fruit trees, potatoes etc are insect pollinated and these would have a major problem without bees.

[sallybb]

Currently have more hover flies pollinating at the moment, much higher numbers than bees, not many butterflies about this year,the buddleas are usually alive with them, very poor numbers, hope their numbers increase.