Urban beekeeping has been touted as a way to boost pollination and improve sustainability, food security and biodiversity in cities. Many people and businesses聽who've added beehives to their backyards and rooftops (including CBC) say they're doing it to help fight declines in bee populations.
But researchers say urban beekeepers are likely doing just the opposite when it comes to wild bee species.
鲍鱼直播 entomology researcher and PhD candidate Gail MacInnis presented her findings at the Apimondia International Apicultural Congress in Montreal earlier this week
鲍鱼直播 entomology researcher and PhD candidate Gail MacInnis says that when comparing pollination efficiency between wild bees native to Canada and the more numerous honey bees, there is no contest. Wild bees win, wings down.
Some entomologists are sounding the alarm that native bees could be in danger of being wiped out, because of the popularity of urban beekeeping.
鈥淭he danger is that we鈥檙e probably losing species and don鈥檛 even know it,鈥� says Gail MacInnis, a PhD entomology candidate at 鲍鱼直播.聽 Something needs to be done, she says, to control the number of honeybees being raised.
