To the editor:
Re: “Misunderstood insects often good for the garden,” May 7.
An excellent article, unfortunately obscured by an inappropriate photo.
Education of humans is the single biggest challenge facing the survival of bees — all bees, European honey bees, and our native bees.
When I ask people what they think of when they think of bees, the usual answers are:
- They’re black and yellow
- They sting
- They make honey
- They live in hives.
With very few exceptions, all of that is mostly wrong.
The photo unfortunately supports the inaccurate notions listed above. Hover flies (such as the one shown) are indeed pollinators, and many have edgy colour schemes that resemble wasps. They are otherwise harmless.
The more we learn about bees, the better we will understand our place in our environment. They are good teachers, and we need to take the time to learn what they have to impart.
Peter Finch,
Vancouver
