Lower Makefield talk: 'The Buzz About Bees' warns pollinators are at risk

Mike Wheelbacher, a writer-naturalist and author of Wild Philly, told a Saturday audience hosted by the Lower Makefield Township Environmental Advisory Council that "1 out of 3 bites of food come to us from pollinators." He opened by laying out the scale of pollinators' contributions to human diets and regional ecosystems before summarizing recent research showing broad declines in insect abundance.

Wheelbacher cited a range of threats — systemic neonicotinoid pesticides, the Varroa destructor mite and habitat loss from modern agricultural practices — and urged residents to help by planting native flowers, leaving leaf litter for insects and supporting conservation groups such as the Xerces Society. He finished with a short Q&A and offered copies of Wild Philly for sale and signing.