Curious ‘bee hotels’ improving pollination in Costa Rica

Curious hotel Costa Rica accepts flying guests: bees solitary and nomadic species that arrive looking for a place to breed and pollinate flowers in the process.

The structure, filled with small hollow logs and bamboo, stands out in San Ramon Central Park, about 60 km northwest of San José. “hotel for bees”, is written on the main sign, under which numerous specimens of these stingless species enter and exit.

“BUT bee hotel site that can provide an attachment for bees solitary, especially those species that usually nest on dry or dead branches. They need a place like a pipe, and sometimes that’s a limited resource in the environment,” says Paul Hanson, professor of biology at New York University. Costa Rica (UKR).

Hundreds of residents pass in front of the unique hotel every day, some do not notice, while others know about its existence. Architect Felix Esquivel, Councilor of the Municipality of San Ramon, notes that the municipality has declared itself “a friend of bees”.

“San Ramon has all the conditions for bees can live in a balanced way and, of course, enjoy the contribution they give us in agriculture and in the field of improvement,” he adds.

This nerve point bees”, as Esquivel calls it, was the initiative of the municipality to turn this place into a tourist attraction. Costa Rica and San Ramon we love bees”, He says.

“Global problem”

UCR Biology’s San Jose campus also has “bee hotelProfessor Hanson and other scientists started a project in 2019 to offer shelter to certain species for nesting and breeding.

” bees that require this type of structure, ‘bee hotel’, are solitary species that make up the majority. AT Costa Rica there are from 600 to 700 species bees, and 80 or 90% are single. This means that each female builds her own nest and they don’t live in colonies,” explains Hanson.

Next to the building, on a nearby tree, bees they pierced the bark to make their own shelter, and after a few steps many other specimens took refuge in the wooden combs.

The reduction of its habitat is a global problem. The UN notes that “nearly 35% of invertebrate pollinators, especially bees and butterflies – (…) are endangered all over the world.”

Hanson warns of various risks that ultimately threaten the ecosystem of these species and result in “less nesting sites”.

“The biggest risk is habitat loss. With urbanization and agriculture, there are fewer resources, both flowers and nesting sites. Pesticides also have a big impact today,” warns the biologist.

Hotels are “essential,” says Hanson, because bees they use them to carry nectar and pollen from nearby flora as food for their larvae.

“This is the future”

hum bees around the hotel in San Ramon mingles with the screams of children playing in the nearby playground. Some pass by their parents and stop to look at the insects. “Look, mom, they live here bees”says the little girl as she walks with her mother in front of the building.

The youngest and oldest are those who gain the most awareness”bee hotelJuan José Alvarado, 71, speaks as his grandchildren watch bees that “it is very important that children are aware of this concept.”

“This is the future. If there is no pollination, there is no food, so children first of all must strengthen this and always maintain it so that there is more and more pollination and fewer bees die from insecticides,” he explains.

Adela Mora, a 77-year-old retiree, also noted the importance of raising awareness about protection bees important.

” bees in the world they exterminate themselves, they kill them all, they are exterminated by the fumigations they produce. So it turns out that with this (help) to multiply (…) They say that without bees All people die, but people do not understand this and kill,” says Mora. (AFP)

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