\nThe International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) currently lists<\/a> 156 species of bees as vulnerable, 20 as endangered, and 11 as critically endangered globally. While those numbers are concerning, there are almost 20,000 different species of bees; in the United States alone, there are around 3,500 species. It\u2019s important to keep these big numbers in mind while focusing on the specific species that need protection.\n<\/p>\n \nJust like other animal groups, bee species can vary widely. You\u2019re probably most familiar with honey bees and bumblebees; they\u2019re in the group Apidae and have a shared \u201chivemind.\u201d Surprisingly, they’re in the minority; 98% of bee species are naturally solitary<\/a>, living without a queen or hive. The most common domesticated bee, used for commercial honey and pollination, is the western honeybee (Apis mellifera<\/em>), which is actually native to Europe, Africa, and western Asia. While its numbers are also declining, the IUCN currently has the species listed as Data Deficient on its Red List of Endangered Species<\/a>.\n<\/p>\n \nIn 2016, the first U.S. bee species to earn federal protection<\/a> under the Endangered Species Act were seven species of Hawaiian yellow-faced bees. Those seven species\u2014Hylaeus anthracinu<\/em>s, Hylaeus longiceps<\/em>, Hylaeus assimulans<\/em>, Hylaeus facilis<\/em>, Hylaeus hilaris<\/em>, Hylaeus kuakea<\/em>, and Hylaeus mana\u2014<\/em>are rare and live only on the Hawaiian Islands. In 2017, the rusty-patched bumblebee (Bombus affinis<\/em>) was also added to the Endangered Species list. This shrinking species was once common in the upper Midwest and Northeastern United States.\n<\/p>\n \nAll of these species are dramatically dropping in numbers because of a lethal combination of habitat loss, diseases and parasites, pesticides, and the climate crisis. This doesn\u2019t just affect bees, but people, too\u2014after all, it\u2019s bees who pollinate much of our food in the world.\n<\/p>\n \nThere are multiple ways bees are being threatened<\/a> in the United States. Most of them are human-made and are a product of poor urban planning and unrestrained industrialization in the modern age. While some steps are being taken to lessen these destructive impacts on bees, some threats do not have complete explanations or solutions.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n \nWith the advent of Big Ag<\/a>, large commercial farms have destroyed crop diversity and bees\u2019 natural habitats. Land in the Midwest and Northeast that was once prairie or grassland has been converted into monoculture farms<\/a> that only produce one crop. Commercial farms\u2019 lack of crop diversity means there is less food and variety for bees to munch on. Bees also lose their habitat when inconsiderate urban development transforms green spaces into roads or cities.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n \nHotter temperatures, heavier rains, shorter springs\u2014all of this disturbs bees\u2019 everyday lives. Unpredictable weather patterns affect bees\u2019 nesting behavior and when they might emerge after winter. It also changes when plants begin to flower; if bees and flowers\u2019 timing is off, that will also affect how crops are pollinated. A warming climate<\/a> also has an impact on bees\u2019 travel range and how far north and south of the equator they can go.\n<\/p>\n \nColony collapse disorder<\/a>, which was first observed in 2006, causes bees to mysteriously abandon their hive. Affected colonies have experienced mortality rates as high as 90%. A U.S. Department of Agriculture and Environmental Protection Agency report<\/a> issued in 2013 suggests a complex mix of problems contributing to honeybee colony declines. Contributors include parasites and disease, genetics, poor nutrition and pesticide exposure, as well as unsustainable farming practices that don\u2019t give bees a pesticide-free buffer zone to forage in. Bee colony collapse is a real concern for our economy, as it abuts all aspects of American agriculture.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n Threats to Bees <\/span> <\/h2>\n
Habitat Loss and Big Agriculture <\/span> <\/h3>\n
Climate Crisis <\/span> <\/h3>\n
Colony Collapse Disorder <\/span> <\/h3>\n