![]() ![]() This is perhaps one of the most beloved bees of all and is found on every continent except for Antarctica. They have the rare capability to thermoregulate - they shiver to produce heat to reach the minimum temperature required for flight. These bumble bees have stout, hairy, robust bodies, mostly black and yellow. Just for fun, here are a few of my favorite bees. In the state of Georgia alone, there are approximately 540 species of bees. Although they provide high-quality food like honey, they represent a tiny fraction of the entire species. When most of us think of bees, we think of the iconic honey bee. So, for those of you who enjoy eating food and breathing air, I’m here to tell you that our bees are in huge trouble and we need to do something about it - fast! They help plants survive, and we all know that plants are important because they produce both food and oxygen. I’m not sure about you, but I need my coffee and chocolate!īees are the first domino in the food chain. Even delicacies like Ecuadorian coffee and chocolate benefit from pollinators. Would there still be food without bees? Of course, but we would lose everything that adds color to our plates- from the cantaloupe in Texas to sweet peppers in Spain. ![]() But, full disclosure, I have worked with insects for more than 40 years and I am absolutely obsessed with bees.īees pollinate dozens of food crops, meaning they do the important work of carrying pollen from one plant to another, making it possible for plants to set seed and produce fruit- think blueberries in Georgia or cranberries in Canada. And, some of you might simply be unconcerned. Some of you might be happy – no more pests buzzing around and no chance of being stung. ![]() She smiles, with a characteristic twinkle in her eye, and asks the audience to imagine a world without bees. She wears a “Bulldog Red” coat and a shining bumble bee pendant. In front of a hushed and darkened audience, Braman takes a steadying breath. The TEDx talk, hosted at Georgia State University’s Rialto Center for the Arts in May, contributed to a forum designed to inspire and ignite the curiosity of listeners all over the globe. Intrigued by her work with urban environments and the pollinators that inhabit them, the organizers of TEDxAtlanta invited Braman to share the results of a recent study she and a team of researchers published on urban bee populations. Now leading the Department of Entomology in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Braman explains that her research takes place at the intersection of pollinator health, ecology and habitat conservation. The work she’s done through the years has not only advanced our scientific understanding of insects, it has informed public policy on issues like pesticide use and environmental protection. Kris Braman joined the University of Georgia in 1989, researching ways to improve the sustainability and profitability of urban plant production and landscape pest management. ![]()
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