One of the earliest bee fossils found to date is from the early Cretaceous Period, approximately 100 million years ago, but unfortunately, the past decade has taken a toll on worker honeybees worldwide. As their population has been facing an unrelenting decline, in 2006 this phenomenon became known as Colony Collapse Disorder. There are multiple factors responsible for the disorder including parasites and disease, genetics, poor nutrition, pesticide exposure, and severe weather conditions.

Since bees are so important to global agriculture, our lives, and to the planet, it's important to take measures to keep bees healthy. Planting native plants that attract bees and other pollinators to our gardens is a very simple solution for local conservation. If you must use them, choose pesticides that are certified organic. Beekeeping is not only a popular way to harvest honey, it's a good way to keep bees in check, healthy, and fed. Many other native bees—perhaps not as well-known to gardeners as honeybees—are also capable of pollinating fruits, vegetables, and other crops. These include mason bees, leafcutter bees, digger bees, sweat bees, plasterer bees, and the very large bumblebees. Some nest in wood cavities or underground burrows. Before you swat that "strange flying insect" in your yard, make sure it isn't a beneficial pollinator.