Bees bring to this world a lot more than honey. They are nature’s matchmakers, pollinating a good chunk of our native habitat and fruits and vegetables.

And that is what makes their recent rapid decline – 35 percent annually – so alarming.

On Monday, Chip Taylor, Kansas University professor of entomology and Monarch Watch director, will give a talk about the disappearing population of pollinators.

The Jayhawk Audubon Society is sponsoring the presentation as part of a continuing program that brings speakers to the organization each month.

Joyce Wolf, program chairwoman, said most people associate the Audubon Society with birds, but the group has a broader concern about habitat protection.

Taylor, who has studied honeybees for most of his career, said the loss of natural habitat, pesticide use and a change in agricultural practices has resulted in the decline of bee colonies and other pollinators.

About 80 percent of native vegetation relies on pollinators and 90 different fruits and vegetables are dependent on them.

At one time, the country had 4 million to 5 million colonies. Today there are around 2.2 million colonies.

At Monday’s talk, Taylor will also address Colony Collapse Disorder, a phenomenon noted in late 2006 in which worker bees suddenly disappeared from colonies.

“We are shooting ourselves in the foot if we are not paying attention to the nature and value of pollinators,” Taylor said.