[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”3_5,2_5″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” width=”95%” custom_padding=”15px||0px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”3_5″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
Sarah M\u00e9gnint is currently an intern at Quinta Vale Da Lama, where she is passionate about wild bee conservation and agroforestry in the context of agricultural transition. With a Master in Global Change Management (MSc), she has been actively involved in agroforestry, regenerative agriculture and rural development projects in both Europe and Africa. Through her fieldwork, she has observed the intertwined environmental and social impacts of adopting regenerative practices – insights she carefully documents in her writing, writing about both the challenges and the solutions.<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”2_5″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/mudvalley.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/SarahM_pic.jpg” title_text=”SarahM_pic” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”5px||||false|false” border_radii=”on|8px|8px|8px|8px” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” width=”95%” custom_padding=”||0px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
Sarah wrote a detailed article which we have turned into three blog posts to be shared with you. This is the third and final blog in the series.<\/p>\n
You can read her first blog post here<\/a> and her second blog post here<\/a>.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.25.1″ _module_preset=”default” width=”95%” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.25.1″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_divider divider_position=”center” divider_weight=”2px” _builder_version=”4.25.1″ _module_preset=”default” max_width=”50%” module_alignment=”center” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_divider][et_pb_heading title=”Observation: What is already there?” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” title_level=”h3″ global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_heading][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n If there is one key principle to respect in any environmental action, it is observation. Observing before acting<\/strong> allows us to understand the environment we’re dealing with and to act in a more thoughtful way that is better suited to local conditions.<\/p>\n But what does this have to do with wild bees? Watching a bee foraging isn’t going to help protect it from pesticides, is it? Yes, but it can help protect<\/strong> and even restore its habitat<\/strong>.<\/p>\n It’s simple: get out of your house and take the time to observe your surroundings, especially in the early hours of the morning. All these types of ecosystems provide nesting sites<\/strong> and\/or nesting material<\/strong>. In short, ask yourself: what and where are the potential refuges for wild bees? This is an excellent place to start protecting them.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/mudvalley.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Four-Striped-Digger-Bee-3a.jpeg” alt=”Four Striped Digger Bee \u00a9antonio_goncalves” title_text=”Four-Striped-Digger-Bee-3a” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” width=”90%” width_tablet=”90%” width_phone=”90%” width_last_edited=”on|phone” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”||10px||false|false” custom_padding=”10px||0px||false|false” border_radii=”on|6px|6px|6px|6px” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_text_color=”RGBA(0,0,0,0.72)” text_font_size=”14px” width=”90%” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”0px||||false|false” custom_padding=”0px||0px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n A four-striped differ bee (Amegilla quadrifasciata<\/em>).<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_divider divider_position=”center” divider_weight=”2px” _builder_version=”4.25.1″ _module_preset=”default” max_width=”50%” module_alignment=”center” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_divider][et_pb_heading title=”Action: Restore the environment” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” title_level=”h3″ global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_heading][et_pb_heading title=”Recreating the habitat with melliferous plants” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” title_level=”h4″ global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_heading][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n After observation comes action: you can not only protect<\/strong> but also restore habitats<\/strong> for wild bees. As mentioned above, nothing too complicated: [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_heading title=”Planting melliferous plants” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” title_level=”h4″ global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_heading][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”||20px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n A second important point is to link the habitat with the food source, the so-called ‘melliferous plants’ (i.e. plants<\/strong> that provide pollen and nectar<\/strong> for bees). Wild bees have a range of several hundred metres. That’s why nesting and foraging areas need to be close together.<\/p>\n One way of doing this is to create several small pollinator gardens<\/strong> next to the habitats (no more than 300m apart), which will greatly reduce the distance between the nest and the food plants and allow the female to raise more eggs.<\/p>\n There are three<\/strong> main points to consider when choosing plants: Here are some examples of plants adapted to the Algarve’s climate – and even endemic to the region.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_heading title=”In gardens and fallow lands:” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” title_level=”h4″ background_color=”gcid-cc499c27-c030-4e8d-8ebc-4d395eef777a” width=”80%” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”0px||0px||false|false” custom_padding=”10px||10px|20px|true|false” global_colors_info=”{%22gcid-cc499c27-c030-4e8d-8ebc-4d395eef777a%22:%91%22background_color%22%93}”][\/et_pb_heading][et_pb_accordion _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”gcid-cc499c27-c030-4e8d-8ebc-4d395eef777a” width=”80%” width_tablet=”80%” width_phone=”100%” width_last_edited=”on|phone” module_alignment=”center” border_width_all=”0px” global_colors_info=”{%22gcid-cc499c27-c030-4e8d-8ebc-4d395eef777a%22:%91%22background_color%22%93}”][et_pb_accordion_item title=”Rockroses” open=”on” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Cistus ladanifer<\/em> and Cistus albidus<\/em><\/p>\n Two species of Cistus<\/em> endemic to the Iberian Peninsula (Fraz\u00e3o et al. 2018) and a food source for wild bees (Ropars et al. 2022). In general, rockroses like dry, sunny soils.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_accordion_item][et_pb_accordion_item title=”Lavender” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” open=”off”]<\/p>\n Lavandula stoechas<\/em><\/p>\n Although best known for its fragrance, it is also a particularly melliferous plant, native to the Mediterranean. It thrives in light, well-drained soils.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_accordion_item][et_pb_accordion_item title=”Rosemary” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” open=”off”]<\/p>\n Salvia rosmarinus<\/em><\/p>\n An aromatic herb that is not only useful in cooking but also provides food for wild bees (Jaworski et al. 2019; Arthropologia 2014). It is endemic to the Mediterranean region.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_accordion_item][et_pb_accordion_item title=”Thyme” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” open=”off”]<\/p>\n Thymus carnosus, Thymus vulgaris<\/em>, Thymus capitatus<\/em> and Thymus lotocephalus<\/em><\/p>\n An aromatic herb that is not only useful in cooking but also provides food for wild bees (Jaworski et al. 2019; Arthropologia 2014). It is endemic to the Mediterranean region.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_accordion_item][et_pb_accordion_item title=”Borage” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” open=”off”]<\/p>\n Borago officinalis<\/em><\/p>\n An interesting plant for wild bees (Stawiarz et al. 2020) for the amount of nectar and pollen it produces, especially for bumblebees (Osborne 2015).<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_accordion_item][\/et_pb_accordion][et_pb_heading title=”In the orchard:” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” title_level=”h4″ background_color=”gcid-cc499c27-c030-4e8d-8ebc-4d395eef777a” width=”80%” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”0px||0px||false|false” custom_padding=”10px||10px|20px|true|false” global_colors_info=”{%22gcid-cc499c27-c030-4e8d-8ebc-4d395eef777a%22:%91%22background_color%22%93}”][\/et_pb_heading][et_pb_accordion _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”gcid-cc499c27-c030-4e8d-8ebc-4d395eef777a” width=”80%” width_tablet=”80%” width_phone=”100%” width_last_edited=”on|phone” module_alignment=”center” border_width_all=”0px” global_colors_info=”{%22gcid-cc499c27-c030-4e8d-8ebc-4d395eef777a%22:%91%22background_color%22%93}”][et_pb_accordion_item title=” Almond tree” open=”on” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Prunus dulcis<\/em><\/p>\n A species domesticated in the Mediterranean basin (Delplancke 2013), now adapted to the region and emblematic of the Algarve. It should be noted that the aim here is not to perpetuate almond monocultures, but rather to integrate this pollen-rich species into a diverse ecosystem (for example, in a mixed agroforestry system). In addition, the early flowering of the almond tree makes it attractive to wild bees, since it is one of the first trees to flower in late winter or early spring. In this way, combining almond trees with other melliferous plants can help to provide resources throughout the year.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_accordion_item][et_pb_accordion_item title=”Carob tree” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” open=”off”]<\/p>\n Ceratonia siliqua<\/em><\/p>\n Although usually more visited by honeybees, is still a source of pollen for wild bees and shows great tolerance to arid and semi-arid climates. It is particularly interesting for wild bees because it flowers in autumn (Varnava et al. 2023).<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_accordion_item][et_pb_accordion_item title=”Strawberry tree” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” open=”off”]<\/p>\n Arbutos unedo<\/em><\/p>\n An evergreen shrub native to the Mediterranean region. Like the carob tree, its pollen- and nectar-rich flowers are an interesting food source during the autumn season (Rasmont et al., 2005). A study in 2022 showed that this species, when pollinated by bumblebees, can even help them get rid of some of their parasites (Koch, Stevenson 2022).<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_accordion_item][\/et_pb_accordion][et_pb_heading title=”Planting biodiversity hedges” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” title_level=”h4″ global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_heading][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”||20px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Knowing which plant species provide nectar for wild bees is important, but understanding how to cultivate<\/strong> them as both a food source<\/strong> and a habitat<\/strong> can significantly enhance their role in supporting wild bee populations.<\/p>\n For example, why not replace<\/strong> your garden fence<\/strong> with a biodiversity hedge<\/strong> or surround your house with a flower bed<\/strong>? If you have an orchard, you can also sow flower patches<\/strong> between the trees or along fields and paths.[SM2]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_heading title=”Building an insect hotel” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” title_level=”h4″ global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_heading][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”||20px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n If you have limited space, you can still help wild bees by providing them with a complete nesting area<\/strong> – also known as an ‘insect hotel<\/strong>‘. As the name suggests, this structure improves the supply of nesting sites for wild bees, particularly species that nest in dead wood or hollow stems.<\/p>\n Nothing too complicated: all you need is a few planks of wood<\/strong> assembled into the shape of a tall house and protected by a sloping roof so that rain can run off. There are, however, some important conditions<\/strong> to bear in mind: [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/mudvalley.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/bee-hotel_pete-haskell.jpg” alt=”Bee Hotel @Pete Haskell” title_text=”bee hotel_pete haskell” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” width=”90%” module_alignment=”center” border_radii=”on|6px|6px|6px|6px” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_text_color=”RGBA(0,0,0,0.72)” text_font_size=”14px” width=”90%” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”0px||||false|false” custom_padding=”0px||0px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n A bee hotel<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_divider divider_position=”center” divider_weight=”2px” _builder_version=”4.25.1″ _module_preset=”default” max_width=”50%” module_alignment=”center” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_divider][et_pb_heading title=”Maintain and monitor” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” title_level=”h3″ global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_heading][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”||20px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Once you’ve planted melliferous species, built your insect hotel or redesigned your garden, there’s one important step left to take: a walk and observe again<\/strong>. See if the wild bees (re)appear and celebrate every little success. For there’s nothing more satisfying than spotting the entrance to a tunnel between two dead leaves on that sandy bank you’ve left alone for a few weeks. Or hearing the buzz of a carpenter bee not far from a wooden stump you’ve drilled holes in.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re having some troubles identifying specific species, some applications like iNaturalist<\/a> might be useful to you. This app allows users to share photos of insects (and other local biodiversity observations) and identify them with the help of a community of experts. At the same time, it helps monitor the diversity and evolution of pollinator populations<\/strong>, supporting research and conservation initiatives.<\/p>\n PS: How can I help wild… and domestic bees?<\/strong> Let’s remember that the key to a balanced ecosystem is diversity. Wild bees coexist with other species including the domestic bee. So here’s a simple yet effective solution to help preserve domestic bees, sustainable beekeeping and local genetic heritage: stop buying supermarket honey that’s not exclusively European in origin. Instead, turn to local honey, often sold at local farmers markets. It’s a great way to get to know and support your local beekeepers. Additionally, eating local honey benefits you; since it is produced by local bees collecting from local flowers, local honey can help eliminate seasonal allergies.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_heading title=”In conclusion” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” title_level=”h3″ global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_heading][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”||20px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n To conclude, let’s not forget that the world of wild bees is much bigger than the few pages of this article. Wild bees play a crucial role in pollination, we still have an incomplete understanding of their diversity, ecology and the threats they face. For instance, a 2014 study highlighted the lack of sufficient data to determine the status of more than half of Europe’s bee species (Nieto et al, 2014).<\/p>\n This means that we are still looking at a little-known world, buzzing with life in the fields and towns around us. And yet bees are silently disappearing: the familiar buzz of hundreds of insects in a field is fading, replaced by the roar of the tractor. Wild bees find their habitats gradually destroyed and their food sources poisoned by pesticides or reduced due to competition with domestic bees.<\/p>\n But scientific findings are clear: wild bees<\/strong> are an essential part<\/strong> of the ecosystem<\/strong> for ensuring the reproduction of our crops and orchards, especially in the context of southern Portugal, which is experiencing increasing desertification.<\/p>\n So what can I do? What can you do? What can we do at our own level?<\/p>\n It’s all about taking the first step: a tree stump, a small patch of sand, a few piles of stones, some melliferous plants around it… In other words, creating the basic conditions for the (re)development of wild bees by restoring the heterogeneity of ecosystems to ensure different types of habitats<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Furthermore, the relationship between crops and pollinators is certainly complex, but the solution to preserving their symbiosis is simple: maintain a diversity<\/strong> of pollinators to ensure pollination of a wide range of plant and tree species. Rather than competing with the increasing numbers of domestic bees, it’s about (re)integrating wild bees into the ecosystem.<\/p>\n So the next time you hear a ‘buzz<\/strong>‘, take a moment. Have a look. What if it’s one of them, a wild bee at work in your ecosystem?<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” header_5_line_height=”1.5em” background_color=”gcid-7f0e497c-529a-4953-b0d4-92935468c329″ custom_padding=”12px|10px|12px|10px|false|false” global_colors_info=”{%22gcid-7f0e497c-529a-4953-b0d4-92935468c329%22:%91%22background_color%22%93}”]<\/p>\n To learn more about Sarah and her work, check out her LinkedIn profile<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_divider divider_position=”center” divider_weight=”2px” _builder_version=”4.25.1″ _module_preset=”default” max_width=”50%” module_alignment=”center” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_divider][et_pb_accordion _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_accordion_item title=”Image Credits” open=”on” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Images sourced from inaturalist.org, with Creative Commons license. In order from top image: \u00a9 Andrea Rushing, \u00a9 , \u00a9 martind, \u00a9 Sara Fonseca, \u00a9 Paulo Galvao, \u00a9 Daniel Raposo, \u00a9 Paul Werner Suss, \u00a9 umbertuccio, \u00a9 Sara Fonseca, \u00a9 Manel Fonseca.<\/p>\n Bee Hotel \u00a9 Pete Haskell from Scottish Wildlife Trust<\/a><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_accordion_item][\/et_pb_accordion][et_pb_accordion _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”gcid-cc499c27-c030-4e8d-8ebc-4d395eef777a” width=”100%” module_alignment=”left” border_width_all=”0px” global_colors_info=”{%22gcid-cc499c27-c030-4e8d-8ebc-4d395eef777a%22:%91%22background_color%22%93}”][et_pb_accordion_item title=”References” open=”on” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n ARB \u00cele-de-France. (n.d.). Quand les abeilles domestiques concurrencent les pollinisateurs sauvages <\/span>https:\/\/www.arb-idf.fr\/nos-travaux\/publications\/quand-les-abeilles-domestiques-concurrencent-les-pollinisateurs-sauvages\/<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n Arthropologia. (2014). Guide des bonnes pratiques pour la pr\u00e9servation des abeilles sauvages en milieu urbain <\/span>https:\/\/www.arthropologia.org\/user\/pages\/02.association\/05.ressources\/11.guide-des-bonnes-pratiques-urbanbees\/guide_bonnespratiques.pdf<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n Basic and Applied Ecology, Volume 17, Issue 7, 2016, Pages 609-616, ISSN 1439-1791, <\/span>https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.baae.2016.05.001<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n Biesmeijer, J. C., Roberts, S. P. M., Reemer, M., Ohlem\u00fcller, R., Edwards, M., Peeters, T., … & Kunin, W. E. (2006). Parallel declines in pollinators and insect-pollinated plants in Britain and the Netherlands. Science, 313(5785), 351-354. DOI:10.1126\/science.1127863<\/span><\/p>\n Delplancke, M., Alvarez, N., Benoit, L., Esp\u00edndola, A., Iori, P., Ruedi, M., … & Arrigo, N. (2013). Evolutionary history of almond tree domestication in the Mediterranean Basin. Molecular Ecology, 22(4), 1092\u20131104. <\/span>https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1111\/mec.12129<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n Garnett, T., Godfray, C., & Lawrence, D. (Eds.). (2013). Agricultural resilience: Perspectives from ecology and economics (Ecological reviews). Cambridge University Press. <\/span>https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1017\/CBO9781139389413<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n GBIF.org. (2025). Hoplitis (Anthocopa) papaveris Linnaeus. R\u00e9cup\u00e9r\u00e9 le 25 janvier 2025, <\/span>https:\/\/www.gbif.org\/pt\/species\/1337297<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n Haldhar SM, Kumar R, Samadia DK ,Singh B & Singh H. 2018. Role of insect pollinators and pollinizers in arid and semi-arid horticultural crops. Journal of Agriculture and Ecology, 5: 1-25.<\/span><\/p>\n Jaworski, C., Geslin, B., & Fernandez, C. (2019, 28 juin). Changement climatique : les abeilles d\u00e9boussol\u00e9es par la nouvelle odeur des fleurs. Echosciences Sud Provence-Alpes-C\u00f4te d’Azur. Consult\u00e9 le 28 janvier 2025, sur <\/span>https:\/\/www.echosciences-paca.fr\/articles\/changement-climatique-les-abeilles-deboussolees-par-la-nouvelle-odeur-des-fleurs<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n Kadereit, Joachim (2008). Some suggestions on the geographical origin of the central, west and north European synanthropic species of Papaver L. Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society. 103. 221 – 231. 10.1111\/j.1095-8339.1990.tb00185.x<\/span><\/p>\n Lina Herbertsson, Sandra A.M. Lindstr\u00f6m, Maj Rundl\u00f6f, Riccardo Bommarco, Henrik G. Smith, Competition between managed honeybees and wild bumblebees depends on landscape context, Basic and Applied Ecology, Volume 17, Issue 7, 2016, Pages 609-616, ISSN 1439-1791,<\/span> https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.baae.2016.05.001<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n MacInnis, G., & Forrest, J. R. K. (2019). Pollination by wild bees yields larger strawberries than pollination by honey bees. <\/span>Journal of Applied Ecology<\/span><\/i>, 56(4), 824\u2013832.<\/span> https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1111\/1365-<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n Marshall L, Perdijk F, Dendoncker N, Kunin W, Roberts S, Biesmeijer, JC. 2020 Bumblebees moving up: shifts in elevation ranges in the Pyrenees over 115 years. Proc. R. Soc. B 287: 20202201. <\/span>http:\/\/dx.doi.org\/10.1098\/rspb.2020.2201<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n Nieto, A., Roberts, S. P. M., Kemp, J., Rasmont, P., Kuhlmann, M., Garc\u00eda Criado, M., Biesmeijer, J. C., Bogusch, P., Dathe, H. H., De la R\u00faa, P., De Meulemeester, T., Lhomme, P., Pauly, A., Potts, S. G., Praz, C., Quaranta, M., Radchenko, V. G., Scheuchl, E., Smit, J., … & Michez, D. (2014). European Red List of Bees. IUCN. <\/span>https:\/\/portals.iucn.org\/library\/sites\/library\/files\/documents\/RL-4-019.pdf<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n Osborne, J. L. (1999). Borage. Bee World, 80(1), 33\u201336. <\/span>https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1080\/0005772X.1999.11099417<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n Palaearctic Osmiine Bees. (2009, 6 novembre). New species for Portugal. ETH Zurich. <\/span>https:\/\/blogs.ethz.ch\/osmiini\/2009\/11\/06\/new-species-for-portugal\/<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n Ropars, L., Affre, L., Th\u00e9bault, \u00c9., & Geslin, B. (2022). Seasonal dynamics of competition between honey bees and wild bees in a protected Mediterranean scrubland. Oikos, 2022(4). <\/span>https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1111\/oik.08915<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n Sociedade Portuguesa de Bot\u00e2nica. (n.d.). Papaver rhoeas. R\u00e9cup\u00e9r\u00e9 le 25 janvier 2025, de <\/span>https:\/\/flora-on.pt\/?q=Papaver+rhoeas<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n Stawiarz, E., Masierowska, M. L., & Ko\u0142towski, Z. (2020). Flowering, forage value, and insect pollination in borage (Borago officinalis L.) cultivated in SE Poland. Journal of Apicultural Science, 64(1), 77\u201389. <\/span>https:\/\/doi.org\/10.2478\/jas-2020-0005<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n The Portugal News. (2023, 11 d\u00e9cembre). Le Portugal se dirige vers les plus grands producteurs d’amandes du monde. <\/span>https:\/\/www.theportugalnews.com\/fr\/nouvelles\/2023-12-11\/le-portugal-se-dirige-vers-les-plus-grands-producteurs-damandes-du-monde\/84055<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n The Portugal News. (2024, 16 mai). Hausse de la production d’oranges en Algarve. <\/span>https:\/\/www.theportugalnews.com\/fr\/nouvelles\/2024-05-16\/hausse-de-la-production-doranges-en-algarve\/88835<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n Vaissiere, B., 2005 \u2013 Abeilles et pollinisation. CR Acad\u00e9mie d’Agriculture de France. 91: 53-56<\/span><\/p>\n
– Are there any small sunny areas bare, well-drained soil around you?
– Do you have any dead wood exposed to the sun and any old tree stumps with cavities?
– Are there any wet, muddy areas such as puddles and pools?
– Do you have untouched fields or flower meadows?<\/p>\n
– If you have a garden<\/strong>, leave a few areas of sandy, bare soil and add piles of stones exposed to the sun where bees can nest in cracks and gaps.
– If you have a woodland<\/strong>, consider leaving some dead wood in the forest; nothing is more attractive to carpenter bees, which prefer to lay their eggs in old branches and tree stumps.
– If you have an orchard<\/strong>, why not plant perennial flower beds rich in native melliferous species between the rows? This will not only encourage the arrival of pollinating wild bees, but will also help to control pests in the orchard.
– You can also add containers to provide a water<\/strong> source for the bees, especially during the summer months.<\/p>\n
1) Stay as local<\/strong> as possible: it is certainly important to focus on melliferous plants, but especially those native to the region, as these are often best adapted to the needs of local bees.
2) Always plant a variety of plant species<\/strong>: as we have seen, many wild bee species only collect pollen from a single plant family, making them highly dependent on the presence of that plant. So the only way to ensure a diversity of bees and other pollinating insects is to increase the diversity of local flora. This helps to diversify food sources and habitats, because the more diverse the range of species in a landscape, the more suitable nesting sites there are (i.e. type and time of flowering, perennial or annual, hollow stems, etc.). As a result, wild bee populations find a variety of conditions in which to survive and thrive.
3) Sowing wild flowers<\/strong> rich in pollen and nectar.<\/p>\n![\"rockrose_martind\"](\"https:\/\/mudvalley.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/rockrose_martind.png\")
<\/p>\n![\"lavender_sarafonseca\"](\"https:\/\/mudvalley.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/lavender_sarafonseca.png\")
<\/p>\n![\"rosemary_paulogalvao\"](\"https:\/\/mudvalley.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/rosemary_paulogalvao.png\")
<\/p>\n![\"thyme_danielraposo\"](\"https:\/\/mudvalley.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/thyme_danielraposo.png\")
<\/p>\n![\"borage_Paul](\"https:\/\/mudvalley.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/borage_Paul-Werner-Suss.png\")
<\/p>\n![\"almondtree_umbertuccio\"](\"https:\/\/mudvalley.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/almondtree_umbertuccio.png\")
<\/p>\n![\"carobtree_Sara](\"https:\/\/mudvalley.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/carobtree_Sara-Fonseca.png\")
<\/p>\n![\"strawberrytree_Manel\"](\"https:\/\/mudvalley.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/strawberrytree_ManelFonseca.png\")
<\/p>\n
– Pay attention to where the wood comes from (it should not be treated).
– Place your insect hotel in a sunny, south\/south-east facing location.
– Make sure the hotel is surrounded by melliferous plants.
– The hotel should be as sheltered as possible from bad weather, especially wind.
– The holes drilled or made in the stems should be 3 to 10 mm wide and 5 to 10 cm deep, with at least 2 cm between holes. Don’t hesitate to check that there are no cracks in the sides of the stems to avoid parasites.<\/p>\nTo help wild bees, it is important to:
– observe the existing ecosystem;
– take action to improve the ecosystem with habitats, native food and water sources to support wild bees;
– maintain and monitor the improved ecosystem to ensure will bees (re)appear.<\/h5>\n