A species of bees in on the Endangered Species list for the first time in American history. A CNN report says seven bee species native to Hawaii are on the protected list as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service added yellow-faced bees to the list after years of research showed they are endangered. The rule is effective on October 31. Bees are crucial for the nation’s food industry as they pollinate fruits, nuts, and vegetables. Various factors have led to a decline in bee populations, which CNN cites as habitat loss, pesticides, and a loss of genetic diversity. The Xerces (Zehr-sees) Society, named after an extinct species of California monarch butterfly, was involved in filing petitions to get bees under protection. During the pollination period, insects, birds, and bats all transfer pollen between plants, allowing them to produce seeds and reproduce. Listing the bees on the Endangered Species List allows authorities to provide recovery programs and fund protection efforts.
From the National Association of Farm Broadcasting news service.
Image credit: By Katja Schulz from Washington, D. C., USA (Yellow-faced Bee) [CC BY 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons