Hobbies And Interests
Mobility
Farmers and beekeepers move the hives of domesticated honeybees regularly. The primary reason for moving a hive is to bring it closer to an area that is in need of pollination. Wild bees make their own hives, which are not disrupted with the sudden changes in location that occurs with domesticated beehives.
Hives and Habitat
Domesticated honeybees live in man-made hives. These hives are built so that beekeepers can collect surplus honey from the hives and with mobility in mind, so they can be be easily moved to locations where crops are in need of pollination. Wild bees tend to live in hives that they build in the ground or in tree hollows. They also require a variety of vegetation to survive, so they tend to build their hives where there is an abundance of different kinds of plants growing.
Origins
There are actually more than 4,000 different species of wild bees that are native to North America. Prior to the 1950s when farming practices became more industrialized, wild bees were responsible for most of the crop pollination in the United States. After monoculture-style farming became the norm, farmers began to rely on domesticated honeybees that were originally from Europe.
Threats
Domesticated honeybee populations are collapsing in the United States, as of the time of publication, which is alarming for farmers. The main threat to honeybee colonies is tracheal mites that attack the colony, rendering the bees unable to fly. A honeybee colony under the attack of these mites usually collapses within a month. Wild bees aren't vulnerable to tracheal mites like honeybees. The main threat to wild bees is a loss of habitat due to human development.