CHARLOTTE, N.C. — As North Carolina remains in a drought, the lack of rain is now also threatening bee colonies across the state. Experts say if the bees struggle, higher grocery prices could follow.
Beekeepers across the state say the drought is bringing fewer wildflowers and native plants. That means less nectar for bees to collect.
Experts also warn less nectar could mean weaker colonies heading into winter.
At the Pollen Peddlers Apiary in Union County, master beekeeper Trish Thompson collects honey and provides and ships honey bees for bee venom therapy.
Thompson said April typically marks the beginning of the best month for bees, as spring is usually associated with blooming wildflowers, abundant nectar and active beekeeping operations.
“We call it white wax, and to us this means there’s a honey flow. There’s a nectar flow. It’s beautiful, it’s soft and perfectly shaped,” Thompson explained.
Thompson has nearly 200 hives across Union County and after years of learning to read her bees, she knows when her colonies are struggling.
“Currently in North Carolina, we have a drought, and that affects our nectar flow. When the nectar flow is affected, that means the bees can’t build up as fast as they should,” Thompson said.
As summer gets underway, Thompson says typically, one hive can produce 50 pounds of honey a week, but lately, some hives across the state are not yielding half. It’s a problem Thompson says could trickle.
“This isn’t about honey, it’s about pollination and if we don’t have pollination, we don’t have food,” Thompson said.
Thompson says it’s not only her honey that is impacted.
Her business also raises bees for venom therapy and she says when they bees don’t have nectar, they can’t build up as fast as they should and become too weak to make new larva.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture says one in three bites of food exists because of pollination from a bee. So, to combat the ongoing drought, Thompson said she’s protecting her hives by combining weaker colonies and feeding them.
“My first goal is the safety and the health of my bees. If I can help them do that, then that’s my purpose,” Thompson said.
Thompson suggests that if residents want to assist bees during the drought, they should provide a shallow dish of water with rocks for them to drink, refrain from using pesticides, and water native plants unless under water restrictions.
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Claudia Puente
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