Pollinators affect about one-third of the global food supply, so news about falling honeybee populations has increased interest in protecting these important insects.

Much of the attention surrounds Colony Collapse Disorder, which the U.S. Department of Agriculture defines as a mysterious ailment resulting in a dead honeybee colony with no adult bees or dead bee bodies but with a live queen and usually honey and immature bees still present. The USDA's Agriculture Research Service said that since the 1980s, honeybees have been under attack from new viruses and pests; there are fewer types of pollen and nectar sources; and pesticides may have sublethal effects. Figuring out ways to help honeybees may help bee populations in general.

Where to start. David Lowenstein, a doctoral student at the University of Illinois at Chicago who collects data on insect populations in urban neighborhoods, and Rich Ramsey, past president of the Illinois State Beekeepers Association, said the most important thing homeowners can do to help bee populations is to reduce their use of broad-spectrum insecticides.

“Any insecticide is not friendly to bees. Bees are bugs, and insecticide kills bugs. Whether it's a lethal dose or not is a different story,” Ramsey said.

One popular pesticide for home use is the chemical carbaryl, best known under the brand name Sevin, which is harmful to bees, Ramsey said. Both Lowenstein and Ramsey said gardeners who feel they must use broad-spectrum pesticides should at least try to spray in the early evening when bees aren't active.

A better choice is to use products containing Bacillus thuringiensis (also known as Bt), which doesn't harm bees, Ramsey said.

A lot of the discussion about pesticides centers on neonicotinoids, a group of chemicals that go into the plant and are present in pollen and nectar. They were created to reduce broad-spectrum pesticide use. Germany and some other countries have banned the use of these chemicals, citing bee die-offs, but both Ramsey and Lowenstein said research about neonicotinoids is ongoing.

“The problem is it's not clear how they are detrimental or if they are a detriment to bees. They're not outright lethal. The concern is they may cause sublethal effects. … It's still unknown if they're as bad as they might be,” Lowenstein said.

Plant right. Vary the plants you grow, having some with big blooms and some with small flowers. Many wild bees, such as sweat bees, are small, Lowenstein said, and they like to visit smaller flowers. Some bees only visit certain types of flowers like squash blooms or sunflowers. Also, make sure to have blooms throughout the season.

Lowenstein said the worst plants homeowners can grow are begonias and petunias. “It's the equivalent of wax fruit to a pollinator,” he said, and bees rarely visit them because they lack pollen and nectar.

Better choices are bee balm, coneflowers, Russian sage, chives, borage, lavender and indigos, Ramsey said. Dandelions and clover are also favorite foods.

Different flowers attract more and different types of bees. Lowenstein said his research shows ethnically diverse neighborhoods have greater and more diverse bee populations, which he attributes to the people living there who plant flowers representing their cultures.

Bees appreciate a water source, so a birdbath with rocks in it to create a shallow pool will give them a place to drink. If the water source is maintained, bees will make it a habit to visit, Ramsey said, and it's a good way to keep bees from hanging around swimming pools.

Get a hive. Bees are considered farm animals, Ramsey said, so even hobby beekeepers need to register with the state.

The initial equipment investment can run between $200 and $300, Ramsey said. Hobby beekeepers should get a two-story hive to start, plus protective gear like coveralls, a bee veil and hat, gloves and a smoker to calm the bees. An extractor is used to remove honey from the honeycomb. Bees can be ordered through the mail. A package including a queen and a pound of worker bees is about $100 to $120, Ramsey said.

Once hives are established, by the second year they can produce about 60 pounds of honey.

Talk to your neighbors if you get a hive. Dick Rooney, who has kept bees for about nine years at both his home and at an American Legion post, said he had to educate his neighbors in the beginning because they were uneasy about his backyard hive.

“A lot of people are afraid of bees, but they found out the bees don't hurt anyone. You're more likely to get stung by a wasp,” Rooney said, adding that his strawberry patch is right by the hive, and he and his granddaughter pick berries without being bothered.

Hobby beekeepers can find help and information from associations like the American Beekeeping Federation or other groups, Rooney said.

Being registered with the state meant Rooney was able to get signs warning neighbors not to use aerosol pesticides, and that they would face a penalty if his bees were harmed by the chemicals.

Only one neighbor protested initially, but gifts of jars of honey smoothed over concerns, Rooney said.

“He's good now. His wife loves the honey,” he said, adding that his surrounding neighbors all get jars.