Rochester resident Noble Krugman stands beside a double bee box at his home on Lake Manitou. Each box can contain upwards of 50,000 honeybees. (Photo by Keith Knepp)

ROCHESTER — In the world’s interconnected environment, the role played by honeybees is critical to the balance of our ecosystem. In fact, it has been estimated one-third of the food consumed by humans relies on pollination, which is done mainly by bees.

Experts have long warned about the dwindling population of bees and the dire consequences should that downward trend continue.

One Rochester man is well aware of the problem and is doing his best to help the situation, as well as educate others on the importance of bees. Noble Krugman has lived on the north shore of Lake Manitou for 41 years. His interest in beekeeping began in the large garden he kept with his late wife. They had a large garden and used the bees to help pollinate many of their plants and to keep their garden healthy.

Along with his beekeeping partner Jim Straeter, Krugman has dedicated a great deal of time and energy to restoring the honeybee population in Fulton County. One of their most visible efforts is in supporting the Optimist Club of Rochester’s pumpkin patches. Krugman pointed out vine produce, such as pumpkins, does not self-pollinate, meaning for the female flower to be fertilized and thus bear fruit, pollen must be moved from the male flower, which is where the bees play their role. Krugman and Straeter set up beehive boxes in the field where the pumpkins are to be grown so the plants can be properly fertilized, which results in the annual abundant harvest of pumpkins that are sold at the Optimists’ pumpkin stand each fall.

The growing concern for the decimation of the bee population is real, however. According to Krugman, there are many factors contributing to their slow demise. One of the major factors is the destruction of the bees’ natural habitats, including dead or dying trees, as well as entire woodland areas that are being used for development. Additionally, harsh chemicals used in insecticides, herbicides and pesticides are not only killing many bees, but oftentimes leave the ones that survive with irreparable damage that leave them unable to fulfil their role in the hive. The Environmental Protection Agency has issued mandates to regulate certain active ingredients harmful to bees, but much of the damage has already been done.

This summer’s harsh weather also contributed to a difficult season for the bee population, Krugman also pointed out. Severe weather in February and April did not allow many flowers to properly bloom as they normally should. Adding in many days of triple-digit temperatures in June and July, many of the flowers did not survive. Krugman said that pollen dies in temperatures above 90 degrees, which in turn led to a reduction in the fruit harvest. The bees also use that pollen to as “bee bread,” which is stored in the hive as food for the colony.

Krugman noted the local primary crops of corn and soybeans contribute nothing useful to the bees. Additionally, the destruction of roadside and fence line vegetation kills many of the wildflowers and natural habitat that bees use as food sources. In fact, Dr. Greg Hunt, a behavioral genetics researcher at Purdue University, estimated we are losing 30 percent of the bee population each year.

It is illegal to kill honeybees. However, there are several people in the area, including Krugman, who will attempt to remove unwanted hives, although in some cases the bees are unable to be reached. Krugman said anyone in Fulton County  seeking assistance should contact Mark Kepler at the Fulton County Purdue Extension office at (574) 223-3397, who will connect them with someone who can help. Residents in Kosciusko County can call their Purdue Extension office at (574) 372-2340.