| OHCC LIVING | APRIL 2023 | 9
It is common to find dead bees on our patios because of the
pesticides and herbicides used here at OHCC. We were astonished
to find that there is a policy here at OHCC to remove beehives if it
is found to be close to a residence. Such was the case last year when
a hive was removed from the Butterfly Sanctuary, not surprising
since they both enjoy many of the same plants. When the hive was
removed, all the bees were left to die since they had no place to take
their nectar.
Bees in Southern California are fairly docile. Only female bees
sting, and only upon provocation, (hint: don't swat a bee away
with your hand). Wasps and other insects are much more likely to
attack, but many people can't make the distinction between the two.
Everyone needs to know that there are professional bee keepers who
can remove the queen and the whole nest and transport it to a more
acceptable location.
Bees and butterflies are the two most important pollinators for
our food and plants, and bees are more efficient at their work. If we
lose them, we will drastically change our food chain, and we will fail
to feed the world's population. The Xerces Society says that scientists
estimate that one in six bee species is already extinct and that more
than 40 percent of those who are left are vulnerable.
If we are not part of the solution, then we're part of the problem.
Landscape
Committee
