The U.S. Fisheries and Wildlife Service has listed endangered rusty bumblebees under the Endangered Species Act. Endangered species are considered endangered, which means there is little left on the planet that could entirely disappear from the face of the earth.
What is a rusty patched bumble bee?
Rusty bumblebees live in colonies that include single queens and maids. Rust-free bumblebees inhabit the grasslands and highlands of the Upper Middle and Northeast. Unfortunately, these meadows and pastures have been degraded or fragmented by other exploitation. Therefore, this species has no nectar or pollen from the flowers. They usually collect pollen and nectar from various flowering plants. Rusty patches appear in early spring and are one of the last species to go into winter. Therefore, to maintain the colony’s longevity, they need a continuous variety of flowering.
Over time, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), for the first time since the late 1990s, a bumblebee species protected under the Endangered Species Act in the United States, its population has dropped by 87%. The rusty bumblebee is now found in only 13 states, down from 28.
Causes of depletion of rusty bumble bees?
Most of the grasslands and grasslands in the Upper Middle East and Northeast have been converted into developed areas and are also used for monoculture farms. Therefore, these species have lost their habitat. Pesticides are widely used in farms and cities. So that, bumblebees can absorb toxins directly through their external skeleton and contaminated honey and pollen. Climate change can harm bees, such as rising temperatures and increased rainfall, increased drought, early snowfall, and delayed snowfall. Specially, these changes may result in fewer flowering plants, less time for queens to winter, and shorter time for feeding due to higher temperatures and the emergence of asymmetric flowering plants and bee spring.
What is being done to conserve rusty-patched bumblebees?
About 4,000 species of bees have been recorded in North America alone, and about half of them are on the verge of extinction, with many citizens across the country moving forward to re-evaluate, protect and restore pollinators and their habitats. Several organizations and government agencies are conducting research and programs to protect these species by working with farmers and landowners. Primarily, it helps to reduce the number of pesticides used or to find alternative pest control methods.
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