The focus is on wild bees: villages in Rhön put in more biodiversity!

The focus is on wild bees: villages in Rhön put in more biodiversity!

In the picturesque villages of the Rhön, especially in Schönau an der Brend in the Rhön-Grabfeld district, the biologist Fabienne Maihoff examines the habitats of wild bees. This research work is part of the "Summing Dörfer" project at the University of Würzburg, which aims to increase the number and biodiversity of wild bees in rural areas. Maihoff has created an area with colorful flowers that meet the needs of wild bees. In her surveys, she has already caught the brown scaland bee, a species that is classified as much endangered in Bavaria. There are currently 521 wild bee species all over Bavaria, but 264 are considered endangered, which underlines the urgency of this research.

wild bees play a crucial role in the pollination of fruit, vegetables and other wild plants. They are usually loners and provide their offspring independently by collecting pollen as food for the larvae and building their nests. Over 400 species of these bees specialize in self -construction from nests, whereas 135 species live parasitically on other wild bee species. However, about 75 percent of wild bees nest in the ground, while the other plant neck or feeding ducts use beetles in the wood, as reported by the WWF.

effective measures for wild bees

As part of the research project, 40 villages in the region from the Rhön to the Würzburg district took part. Around half of these communities are now implementing wild bee -friendly measures recommended by the University of Würzburg. These measures include creating perennial surfaces and planting trees and hedges that increase the variety of flowers. "Villages also create nestructures for wild bees because about 75 % nest in the ground," explains Maihoff. These nesting areas consist of nesting hills, demolition edges and clay parts walls and also benefit from other polluting insects.

The measures are not only important for the preservation of wild bees, but also have a positive effect on the entire biodiversity in the region. "In Germany, only 37 percent of the more than 560 wild bee species are considered to be safe", emphasizes wwf.de. These surveys show how critically the situation is for many species and how necessary it is to raise awareness of the protection of these valuable insects.

The initiative in the villages shows how important community use and well -thought -out measures are to enrich the landscapes for wild bees and strengthen pollinator populations. The research of Maihoff and her colleagues will not only contribute to a better understanding of the ecological needs of wild bees, but will also be pioneering for future measures to protect your habitats.