Bee Our Hero

Such a small insect with such a great importance for everyone!

The bee is a little hero of nature that most of us don't really know about.

At HERACLES Group, we take the initiative to introduce this little hero to the general public and inform about the actions we take to protect him, under our Corporate Social Responsibility program "One more feat" and the awareness program "Bee Our Hero".

Quick introduction to the Bee world

They belong to the order of Hymenoptera and to the species Apis Mellifica

They live in beehives with 50.000 bees, they have 1 queen, thousands of workers & drones

The bee species in Greece are the Apis Ligustica, Mellifera Caucasica, Carnica, Macedonica, Cekropia & Buckfast

Why is the Bee so important?

The bee is important for nature and mankind because, its daily struggle to transfer pollen from flower to flower, causes the fertilization of 60-70% of plants.

Albert Einstein, the famous nobelist stated that "if the bees ever become extinct, the human species will soon follow them."

BEE OUR HERO

We recognize the role of the important pollinator, and those who take care of him and thus, we support "Another feat for nature and business".

After the catastrophic fires of summer 2021 in Northern Evia, the need for help and support was huge and HERACLES Group was there. We embraced and supported the effort of the local community and the 300 beekeepers that stood on their own and protected their bees. We undertook the provision of food for about 500.000.000 bees donating 150 tons of bee food in collaboration with the Beekeeping Cooperative of Istiaia "I Kypseli".

Amazing facts about the bee:

5.000

it makes 5.000 flower visits per day

33,33

%

of the food we consume comes as a result of its existance

11.400

are the times per minute its wings go up and down, thus it buzzes

It needs only 28gr of honey to go around the world

The tasks it undertakes are assigned are based on its age

Is one of the only insects that produce food we can enjoy

It communicates with the rest of the bees with a sort of dance

It has a unique color compared to the rest of the bee hive

It senses the electromagnetic waves in the atmosphere before the storm, thus it returns to the bee hive in time

Bee friendly,
Bee the solution

The bees, nature's little heroes are in danger. How can we all help?

Let's imagine spring without strawberries or cherries. Or, let's imagine summer without watermelon and tomatoes. How would you feel if many of your favorite fruits and vegetables suddenly disappeared?

It sounds immense, however it depicts a future that will become a reality if we don't put together our best efforts to protect the most important pollinator of nature: the bee.

THE PROBLEM

Habitat destruction: With the spread of industrial agriculture and urban landscape, many habitats have been reduced, fragmented or extinct, depriving bees of natural habitat for food and shelter.

Climate change: Changing climatic conditions and rising temperatures threaten flowering plants and in turn bees find it difficult to find food, leading to higher mortality rates.

Chemical pesticides: The main cause of declining bee populations is harmful pesticides and environmental pollutants. Pesticides weaken the bee's immune system, weakening the hive and leaving it open to bacterial and viral diseases.

Poor nutrition: Some farming practices make it more difficult for bees to look for food for a well-balanced diet. Monoculture, for example limits the bees' diet to one type of pollen for extended periods of time. Malnourished bees are more sensitive to chemical pesticides, parasites and pathogens.

HOW WE CAN HELP:

We create a flower garden

The most fun and easy way to help bees is the garden at home or on our balcony!

By choosing herbs such as basil, thyme, rosemary, chives and parsley, we ensure food for the bees and several supplies for our cooking!

We can also plant wildflowers - the ideal food source for bee pollination and a variety of flowers, so bees can access pollen and nectar all year round!

You may find unique dyi ideas here: https://www.xtizoumemazi.gr/idees-liseis

We reduce chemical pesticides usage

Pesticides are harmful to bees and other pollinators as well as the environment.

Alternatively, we can apply natural solutions to reduce pests in our gardens, by planting aromatic herbs such as thyme and rosemary, while at the same time attracting beneficial insects such as ladybugs, the natural "predators" for aphids.

We offer them sugar

A small amount of sugar is enough for a tired bee!

Mix two teaspoons of white sugar with a teaspoon of water and place the mixture on a saucer or sprinkle our flowers to rejuvenate tired bees.

We support local beekeepers and organizations

We choose to support local beekeepers and prefer local honey and beeswax products.

Local honey is not only delicious - it is made from the local flora and can also help with seasonal allergies!

We make a watering can or bath for the bees

Bees work hard, so they need water like all creatures.

Not only do they drink water, but they carry it back to their nest to dilute the honey, feed their babies, and even regulate the temperature in the hive.

A great way to help hydrate our thirsty friends is to create a watering can for the bees.

DIY cement watering can for bees

We create a cool oasis for the pollinating visitors of our garden! In order to have safe access to water, without the risk of drowning we will need:

- Shallow cement tray

-Stones, pebbles and balls

- Fresh water

Execution:

We find instructions for making the tray for our watering can here.
We add fresh water - without filling it - and place our watering can in a quiet part of our garden.
Add pebbles, pebbles and balls, taking care to cover the bottom but at the same time let them cross the surface of the water, so that the bees can stand on them and have access to water safely.
We renew the water on a daily basis, to quench the thirst of bees, butterflies and other visitors in our garden!