Central Florida Green Guide

Honey Bee

Over the past several years, the honey bee population in the United States has dwindled by 25%.  This decrease is due to many factors:

• loss of good pollen and nectar supplies
• chemical exposure
• Varroa mites (which were somehow inadvertently introduced in the U.S. in 1987.  These parasites feed exclusively on the honey bee.)
• Colony Collapse Disorder (where worker bees suddenly disappear from a colony).

This is alarming!  Honey bees are important in many ways.  Many plants will not produce fruit at all without the help of the honey bee.  They are responsible for pollinating one-third of all the foods we eat.  The Orange Audubon Society wants to help us learn how to help the honey bee.  On February 19th at 7 p.m. at the Harry P. Leu Gardens (1920 N. Forest Avenue, Orlando), Jean Vasicek will talk about what we can do to keep honey bees from becoming extinct.  Jean is a beekeeper and also the owner of Winter Park Honey.  This event is free to the public! 

Some upcoming events by the Orange Audubon Society include:

• Orlando Wetlands Park fieldtrip (February 21, 2009)
• Butterfly Identification Class (3 Saturdays in April.  There is a fee for this class)
• Monthly programs (3rd Thursday of every month – free)