Tuesday, May 30, 2017

Bees on the Decline in the U.S.


The rusty patched bumble bee is now “beeing” listed as an endangered species in the United States. This bee is known as a key pollinator of blueberries, tomatoes and wildflowers. It is also the first wild bee in the continental United States to “bee” listed as endangered. This status includes federal protections and the development of a plan to recover the bee population.

Since the 1990s, the rusty patched bumble bee has seen a shocking decline of 87 percent. These bees were once incredibly common in 28 American states and are now found scarcely in only 13 states. This decline is thought to “bee” caused by a combination of habitat loss, disease, pesticide use, and climate change.

The reason endangerment and extinction are such serious topics is “beecause” of the interconnectedness of the world’s ecosystem. Bees serve as vital pollinators of our plant life, which ultimately “beecomes” a food source to humans as well as other creatures which share the earth with us. Christy Leavitt from Environment America suggests that “it’s simple: no bees, no food.”

The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Services says that individuals can help by planting gardens with lots of flowers which provide nectar for bees. They also recommend leaving some areas untouched since many bumble bees build nests in undisturbed soil, abandoned rodent burrows, or grass clumps.

To learn more about the endangered status of the rusty patched bumble bee, visit https://www.fws.gov/midwest/endangered/insects/rpbb/factsheetrpbb.html.


By: Miriam Nelson

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