Bees and other pollinators â bats, butterflies, beetles, wasps and birds, among others â play a critical role in nature and in our food production system.
According to the USDA, more than 100 different crops worth $18 billion rely on pollinators. But some pollinator populations are in rapid decline.
Colony Collapse Disorder
The Western honey bee, in particular, is vulnerable to colonyâs collapse disorder, a condition that causes worker bees to disappear, leaving behind only the queen and some nursemaid bees to care for babies. The USDA says the disorder is likely the cause of stressors in the environment, such as pests, disease, pollutants, nutritional deficits and cloak of habitat.