The Importance Of The Bumble Bee

Growing up as a kid the sight of a bee flying around was often terrifying, despite this there’s a complex story unfolding behind the scenes as they travel the world in countless numbers, gently landing from flower to flower. The rusty-patched bumble bee, Bombus affinis, plays a pivotal role within ecosystems, with responsibilities such as collecting nectar and pollen and helping the foods that are largely consumed today, flourish in abundance. Recently, the rusty-patched bumblebee was put on the endangered species list provided by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS). The inclusion of the bumble bee on the endangered list was enough to put many advocates in a full-blown conservation frenzy. However, without fully understanding the benefits

In today’s environment, pollinators such as bees are depended upon heavily to act as a way to provide nutrients and the spread of growth among agriculture. To do so, the bees go from flower to flower spreading pollen and nectar, (providing nutrients and pollination that in turn) allow for an increase in crop production. Without pollination, there would be significantly less production of many of the main food groups consumed, as there are no resourceful alternatives to pollinate agriculture. The foods that would be affected range from wheat to rice to corn — the basis of many human diets. Almost all of the fruits and vegetables grown and distributed would take a much heavier impact and a decline in production because almost all fruits and vegetables produce flowers and have growth functions that rely on pollination in order to flourish. In some cases, the fruits, vegetables, and nut trees that are grown with pollinating bees would not be able to produce produce without the work of bees. Additionally, outside of the farm, many wild plants are also dependent on bee pollination to produce their wild berries and fruits. The berries and fruits provided by the wild plants are a necessary food intake for animals and other insects in the corresponding ecosystem. Unfortunately, there has been

In regards to population growth, with a now, never before seen spike in human population, there is an increased demand for foods that are produced by the influence of pollination, however, there are not enough bees to keep up with the task. It is because of this high demand that more farmers and industrial agriculturists are transiting towards genetically modified organisms (GMO) to produce larger quantities of food. However, with an increase in GMOs, this process brings along it toxic runoff and insecticides that are damaging to the bees. When the bees come into contact with a plant that was recently subjected to GMO insecticide spraying, over time the exposure to the chemicals weakens the bee’s immune system. Unbeknownst to the bees, they continue to weaken themselves and eventually die off due to weakness and the inability to move. Furthermore, there is a visible increase in pollinating bee diseases. Originating in Asia, the predominant disease affecting the bees, named Varroa, has grown to a now global scale. The disease is responsible for effetely wiping out entire populations of bees in the winter by killing off the queen and with her the ability to reproduce a continued colony. The ability to resist said pathogens are hindered by an increased exposure to chemicals and