This Bee Is Worth Millions (And You've Never Heard Of It)

Key Concepts:

• Alkali bees: Native bees in Walla Walla Valley, Washington, that are highly effective alfalfa pollinators.
• Alfalfa seed production: The specific type of agriculture in the Walla Walla Valley that relies on alkali bees.
• Bee beds: Artificially maintained nesting sites for alkali bees.
• Pollination: The process of transferring pollen from the stamen to the pistil of a flower, enabling fertilization and the production of fruit or seeds.
• Pesticide exposure: The harmful effects of pesticides on bee populations.
• Native bees: Bee species that are indigenous to a particular region.
• Pollinator portfolio: The concept of diversifying the types of pollinators used in agriculture to ensure resilience.

Alkali Bees as Superior Alfalfa Pollinators

• In Walla Walla Valley, Washington, alfalfa seed farmers rely on alkali bees (a local, native species) rather than honey bees or alfalfa leafcutter bees for pollination.
• Alfalfa flowers have a "keel" petal that, when "tripped" by a bee, releases pollen. Honey bees avoid this mechanism, taking nectar without pollinating.
• Alkali bees are more effective because they are "tough" and continue pollinating despite being "smacked in the face" by the pollen release.
• A single female alkali bee can visit 5,000 flowers and collect 4 million pollen grains a day.

Management of Alkali Bee Populations

• Farmers create and maintain "bee beds," which are patches of soil with specific moisture and salt content to encourage nesting.
• The process involves:
  1. Watering the soil through a network of buried pipes to achieve the right moisture level.
  2. Adding salt (NaCl) to form a crust that prevents the soil from drying out.
  3. Punching tiny holes in the soil to create starter homes for the bees.
• High nesting densities can be achieved, up to 100 nests per square foot.
• Mark Wagoner's 18 bee beds cover about 30 acres of his farm.

Economic Value of Alkali Bees

• Alkali bees significantly increase alfalfa seed yield.
• Having alkali bees can result in 400 pounds more seed per acre.
• At $2.50 per pound, this translates to a potential increase of $1 million for a 1,000-acre farm.

Unique Regional Practice

• Walla Walla Valley is the only place on Earth where farmers commercially manage wild, ground-nesting bees for pollination.
• This practice allows them to grow a quarter of the U.S. alfalfa seed crop.
• Doug Walsh, the state entomologist for wine grapes, emphasizes the localized nature of this practice, stating it's "done really right within an eight mile circle of here."

Threats to Alkali Bees and Conservation Efforts

• Traffic: A new highway project threatened the alkali bee population because the bees fly low to the ground.
  • Doug Walsh conducted a study using a "vehicular bee sweeper" to demonstrate that the bees hug the ground.
  • The study led the Department of Transportation to move the freeway over a couple of hundred yards and over a hill.
• Pesticides: Pesticides used to control alfalfa pests can be lethal to bees.
  • Farmers have adopted practices to minimize harm, such as spraying insecticides only in the evening when the bees are done foraging and ensuring the chemicals are dry by morning.
• Attempts to establish alkali bee populations in other areas, like California, have failed, possibly due to greater pesticide exposure from more diverse crops.

Importance of Native Bees

• The video highlights the importance of native bees beyond honey bees, noting that there are about 4,000 species of native bees in the U.S.
• It suggests diversifying our "pollinator portfolio" and paying more attention to native bees.
• Alkali bees are described as being like "children" and "friends" to the farmers, emphasizing the close relationship and shared benefit.

Conclusion

The video showcases the unique and successful reliance on native alkali bees for alfalfa seed production in Walla Walla Valley. It emphasizes the economic benefits, the specific management practices required, and the threats faced by these bees. The video advocates for greater recognition and conservation efforts for native bees as a crucial part of a resilient agricultural system.