It takes the labor of 12 worker bees their whole lifetime just to make one teaspoonful of honey. The life cycle of bees runs only six to eight weeks. What these small creatures are able to make in their brief lives is no light matter. But above all, and of much greater value, is the work they accomplish by the pollination of flowers and plants. It is said that Albert Einstein once said, "If the bees disappeared off the face of the Earth, man would only have four years left to live."
Without bees, we will lose much of our natural biodiversity. Once the act of pollination ceases, the environmental cycle will gradually break down. This may be viable at some sites with human or robotic labor for the supporting task of pollination, but nature has provided so many structures and systems absolutely free of cost, and their removal would create problems that can't even be perceived. Every time a bee embarks on a flight to collect nectar, it visits from 50 to 100 flowers.
Of late, hornets have been turning out to be prey for hunters. Their larvae are considered a delicacy and nutritious; they even find their way to restaurants. It is considered a brave act when one hunts hornets. Though hornets seem dangerous, they are again a wonderful gift of nature. They contribute a lot to the pollination process and also are helpful as they consume harmful pests like mosquitoes and other harmful insects. According to one study, one nest of hornets eats over 3,000 mosquitoes and other harmful insects per day, hence maintaining natural balance.
The Tale of the Honey Bees
Humans like to be considered conscious beings. Mankind, however, due to their infatuation with their selfish cravings and tastes, have caused further destruction to the ecological environment and systems. Killing these useful insects for a taste will lead to many more disasters in the future. We have already suffered at the hands of the increased attacks by mosquitoes during the last few years. With climate change, conditions that favor mosquitoes are more prevalent than ever, and such deadly diseases as dengue have spread across the country, including mountainous parts. Elimination of hornets favors the growth of mosquitoes. This would also weaken the natural balance role played by insects like bees and hornets in our nature; it will put the life cycle between animals and plants in grave jeopardy.
Though larvae of hornets are nutritious, their recent introduction into hotels and restaurants should be viewed for possible implications thoroughly because traditionally they were consumed in villages in limited quantities. However, the recent trend where hornets and their larvae have found their ways to restaurants, demands that they be farmed commercially. In China, for example, hornet farming has started. Otherwise, problems could result from consuming naturally available hornets. Traditionally, hornets have been reserved for consumption only when they are offered to their ancestors by some ethnic groups in the country. In fact, it is also deemed appropriate to make consumption of other types scarce among the general group of people. Ecologically, too, there is a felt need for lesser intake of meats. Especially, rearing animals and poultry for meat entails very particularly large releases of methane, which is especially harmful to the environment.
France, one of the European countries favoring meat consumption, opposed just last year an effort to offer workers vegetarian meals on Wednesdays and Fridays. A call to reduce meat consumption is especially being made amidst the claimed contribution to the climate crisis. For instance, a study has shown that even a mere consumption reduction in meat by the British people will possibly generate significant environmental dividends. For instance, even a small reduction in meat intake, according to a BBC report published in July 2023, will equal taking eight million cars off the roads when ridding the environment of all kinds of pollution is concerned.
These examples show that one can reflect on the consequences of choices for taste or enjoyment on the environment and the ecosystems. We have to think critically, not just go with the crowd. We have to keep a balance even for the future of our descendants. We have to be aware that the creatures that give us life do not disappear from Earth.
Whether it is the hornets, which nature acknowledges as cleaners, or the bees, which make sure humanity survives on Earth, we need to understand and realize the very important roles they play in the survival of humanity. If humans think themselves intelligent and conscious creatures, then they too must do something to save the planet. Now, it is quite evident that Earth is in crisis, not because of the other living beings but because of humans and their activities. If not taken care of, these minor issues may risk the very existence of humanity. We must remember that whereas all other creatures and plants can survive independently of humans, humans cannot survive without them.
