What comes to mind when you think of honey bees? Beeswax and honey? Flowers? Fruits and vegetables? A new study has found that America’s bee population is on the decline for reasons we do not yet understand but should be highly concerned about.

Scientists have known that these insects were in trouble for some time. A prior investigation revealed that wild bee populations fell in 23 percent of the United States between 2008 and 2013. The pollinators are at risk in 139 counties across North America, several of which are located in key agricultural centers such as the Midwest’s corn belt.

Researchers like Insu Koh, the head author of the study, believe that a “mismatch” phenomenon is taking place—a relationship between the crops most in need of pollinators and the areas that have experienced the greatest population losses. Thirty-nine percent of croplands that rely on pollination now face a potential shortage. Crops that could suffer due to this scarcity include apples, blueberries, peaches, watermelons, pumpkins and almonds.

Such drastic changes could have a powerful effect on our nation’s economy. Beeswax can be found in a wide variety of products—from food to pharmaceuticals to furniture polish, the work of bees is nearly everywhere, not just in our agriculture. A substantial dip in bees means a fluctuation of the production of certain goods.

One potential cause of the plummet is habitat devastation. As mankind clears more land for the sake of progress and stimulating cash flow, wild bees lose suitable living space. Bee declines have also sprouted around crops less dependent on pollination such as cotton, canola and soybeans, which tend to be grown in large fields otherwise perfect for bee colonies. Further research is being conducted concerning how pesticides and climate change might also be hindering bees quality of life.

As so little is known about the true cause of the bee decline, researchers can only speculate about possible solutions, but that is no excuse for the common citizen to not do their part to conserve and protect the environment. Encourage crop rotation and diversity, avoid toxic pesticides, leave uninhabited land alone, independently raise bees and ensure their safe growth. If we want to keep feeding the world, we have to take care of those that have always selflessly taken care of us.