Honeybees seem to have the best public relations team — they’ve won the affection of many and eclipse our focus on other bees. And although we rely on the western honeybee for agriculture, they manage just a third of the pollination necessary for U.S. food production. In reality, around 80 percent of the worlds’ pollination lies in the legs and mandibles of native bees. This means that the world's agricultural industry couldn't operate without them.
They’re directly involved in native plant reproductive cycles, too. In fact, we can thank native plant pollinators for our food crops. Among unsung pollinators like wasps, flies and moths there are native bees — specifically solitary species — working hard to help native plants reproduce. They are among the essential workers of our ecosystem.
