After looking at the bee problem in Europe I realised I knew very little about decline in bee populations where I am living, in Canada. I quickly discovered that Canada had recently put the Rusty-patched Bumblebee on their endangered species list, reflecting a decline of many bumblebee species populations in Canada more generally. In the 1970s the Rusty-patched Bumblebee was the fourth most common bumblebee in Ontario and Quebec but there has been a sharp decline in their populations, only realised when a University of York PhD student conducted a study of them. Since this discovery Peter Kent, the Federal Environmental Minister for Canada put this particular species on the endangered species list, the first federally listed bee in North America.
The reasons for such an extreme disappearance are still unclear to scientists, though they insecticides are considered to be at least partly to blame. Another factor which is being considered is climate change. This is because this particular species of bumblebee is the earliest to emerge in spring and the last to end foraging in autumn, which makes it more vulnerable to the dangers of weather extremes. The loss of natural habitat is also considered as one of the possible causes for the decline of the Rusty-patched Bumblebee, as it is with the decline of other bumblebee species.
Now that awareness of this particular bees’ near extinction has increased, more research is being carried out for its protection. Terrifyingly, in the past decade only three individuals have been found in Canada, all in the Pinery Provincial Park in Southern Ontario. Research is now taking place to find suitable habitats for these bees. Once this habitat has been discovered, breeding programs will be set up and the Rusty-patched bumblebee will be reared in captivity. Once a number of disease-free colonies have been established mated-queens from these colonies will be released into these selected habitats in autumn with the hope that new colonies will emerge in spring. This will be the first program of its kind in North America. Through the use bumblebees in pollination it is evident that bumblebees are easily and successfully reared in captivity, which gives hope for the success of this program.
The story of the Rusty-patched Bumblebee reminds us of a crucial lesson; we need to be aware of the wildlife which exists around us or they could die out without us even realising or taking responsibility for our part in the outcome.
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