What concern do ecologists raise?
Beekeeping was once a rural pursuit, but hives now appear on the roofs of offices, hotels and even opera houses in large cities. Enthusiasts argue that cities can be surprisingly good for bees: parks, gardens and balcony planters offer a longer flowering season than farmland, where a single crop may bloom for only a few weeks, and urban areas use fewer pesticides. Yet ecologists urge caution. A growing number of hives may compete with wild pollinators such as bumblebees and solitary bees for limited nectar, harming species that are far more threatened than the honeybee. Honeybees are, after all, managed livestock rather than wildlife. The most helpful step for city dwellers, these experts say, may be to plant more flowers rather than to keep more hives.
Answer and explanation
Correct answer: A. Extra hives may deprive wild pollinators of food
- Step 1: They fear competition for limited nectar that harms more threatened species.
Answer
Extra hives may deprive wild pollinators of food.
Why not the others: Disease, safety of pedestrians and honey quality are never raised; the worry is competition for nectar.
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