National Honey Bee Day - August 15

National Honey Bee Day, celebrated this year on August 15^th, is a day to recognize the vital role honey bees play in pollination and crop production as well as in making honey and beeswax. Bees are important for agriculture, ecosystems and human livelihoods. National Honey Bee Day also appreciates beekeepers for managing healthy bees for the purpose of pollinating crops.

European Honey Bee covered in pollen; photo by UF

The European, or western, honey bee (Apis mellifera) was brought to the Americas by early European settlers and has become part of the natural environment ever since. It is one of 3,600 species of bees in the United States. Unlike native bee species, the honey bee can be managed to benefit the pollination needs of certain crops.

While searching for nectar, bees transfer pollen from male flower parts (anthers) to female flower parts (stigma) to fertilize the plant and produce fruit and seeds. Worldwide, 250,000 species of flowering plants depend on bees and other insects to spread their pollen from one plant to another. They pollinate one-third of human food crops. In Florida, honey bees pollinate the state’s most important agricultural crops including citrus, tomatoes, watermelons, peppers, cucumbers, onions and blueberries.

Honey bees produce honey made by nectar collected from flowering plants. They may travel up to five miles from the hive and visit up to 100 flowers in one foraging flight. Honey production in Florida is important both economically and ecologically. In 2025, Florida’s honey production volume was 3.6 million pounds valued at $14.2 million.

Because of recent population declines, additional attention has been paid to the causes of honey bee colony losses. These are likely caused by a number of factors, including poor queen health, poor nutrition, the pathogen-spreading mite Varroa destructor, pesticides, and emerging diseases. States and stakeholders have developed plans for the protection of honey bees and promotions of all pollinators. Homeowners can help bees by planting flowering plants and minimizing the use of pesticides or carefully timing pesticide use if needed to prevent exposure to foraging bees.