Save the Rusty-Patched Bumble Bee
Brink of Extinction
So what is causing this mass destruction of the bee species? Well, for most species that are endangered the most important causes of extinction and threats to ecosystem services comes from the acronym HIPPCO. From this acronym we can learn what aspects of it concern the Rusty-Patched Bumble Bee. So what could possibly be more important than a species that pollinates our crops and contributes around $3 billion to agriculture in the US? We will tell you:
Climate Change
When winter stays longer than expected in some states, the flowers are unable to bloom in the cold weather. The bees native to those states are unable to feed on the pollen and nectar since the flowers haven't bloomed, which causes them to starve to death (The Rusty-Patched Bumble Bee, 2001). This leads to fewer bees able to pollinate crops such as cherries, apples, tomatoes, peppers, cucumber, squash, plums, kiwis and more (The Rusty-Patched BumbleBee, 2011). This results in the decreasing production of food in those states affected, ultimately resulting in a decrease in the economy.
Pollination is a key event for a plant and for the pollinators in the year. That specific part of the year is when the pollinators get their food, and that is also what determines whether the plant will grow fruit or not (The Diet of Bees, 2003). The Rusty-Patched Bumble Bee species have co-evolved with plants, such as fruits and vegetable plants like eggplant and tomato, and the two species time their cycles to coincide. For example, when insects are maturing from larva to adult is exactly when nectar flow begins (The Diet of Bees, 2003). Plants currently are differing in their cycles because of the now drastic climate change that is occurring, so some bees are unable to pollinate flowers because the winters are becoming longer and the bees cannot pollinate or get their source of food.
Habitat Loss
Urbanization not only leaves the Rusty-Patched Bumble Bee without a home but it also isolates and fragments the land in which the bees live on. The Rusty-patched Bumble Bee commonly nests in lightly wooded areas or farmland in underground burrows or old dead logs. The fragmentation of these areas reduces gene flow between the Rusty- patched Bumble Bee population, which decreases genetic diversity (The Rusty-Patched Bumble Bee, 2001). Being isolated makes it harder for bees to find mates, have enough nesting sites and eat enough food within a limited area. They need a large habitat in order to thrive.
Pesticides and Herbicides
Certain pesticides and herbicides such as Neonicotinoids have been feared by beekeepers and environmentalists to be killing off large numbers of various bee species. These pesticides are absorbed into plant tissues and is present in pollen and nectar, making them toxic to bee species such as the Rusty-Patched Bumble Bee (Ptácek, 2001). Even the smallest amount of a pesticide can cause horrific impacts on colonies. The pesticides cause the bees to become paralyzed and choke to death, causing a rapid decrease in population numbers. Colony Collapse Disorder has been shown in studies after bees have been exposed to pesticides (Ptácek, 2001). These chemicals that were originally meant to keep the bees from the harm of mites and other insects meant to harm the bees have now become a major contributing factor to their demise.
