A rare bee species has recently been put on the endangered list. The main drivers for this depreciation in the species are pesticides, climate change, and disease. The specific species in question is the rusty patch bumblebee. Bees are critically important because they pollinate plants, so the situation cannot be stressed enough.
Key Takeaways:
- In case you thought that reporting on the rapidly diminishing number of bee colonies around the country was being over-hyped, this should tell you that prior warnings were spot-on, and indeed, prophetic.
- For the first time ever, a rare bee species is being placed on the endangered species list,
- U.S. officials with the Fish and Wildlife Service said in recent days that the decision was made following major declines in the rusty patched bumblebee population.
“For the first time ever, a rare bee species is being placed on the endangered species list, giving them special legal protections enshrined in U.S. code that, hopefully, will save them from extinction and billions of people from starvation.”