Why are BEES so IMPORTANT? | World Bee Day | Newsround

Hello, I'm Ricky the Busy Bee. Ever wondered who helped make the food you eat? The answer, buzzing bugs like me. I'm not just talking about honey, although we make that yummy runny stuff too. Think broccoli, tomatoes, apples. In fact, bees help provide about a third of what you eat, as well as bringing your gardens to life. We do this by spreading pollen between different parts of flowers and plants, allowing them to grow seeds and fruit, all while flapping our wings 200 times per second. In the UK, there are over 250 species, made up of honey, solitary, and bumblebees. But right now, we're in serious trouble. In the last 10 years, our UK population has shrunk by around a third. That's because our habitats are being destroyed. There's changes in the climate, and some hives are being attacked by viruses. Chemicals used to protect crops from the insects have also been blamed for some UK species having disappeared completely. And it's not just here. The US recently added seven types of bee to its list of endangered species. But humans are taking action to help us survive, because if we're not here to help make your vegetables and fruit grow, you guys could find yourselves in a very sticky situation.