Colonist Honeybees Present Challenges; Support Native Species.

Honeybees, introduced to North America from Europe in the 1600s for their wax, are now seen as colonial invaders. Despite their popularity, they pose challenges to the over 1,600 native bee species in California, which represent 40% of the nation's total. San Diego County alone is home to 700 of these species, and honeybees may be outcompeting them. With colonies often exceeding ten thousand, honeybees serve as effective pollinators for crops across California, from almonds to alfalfa.