The Rusty Patched Bumblebee (Bombus affinis) is a vital pollinator in North America, known for its distinctive rusty-colored patch on its back. Pollination is crucial for flora reproduction, which gives rise to plants and vegetables – an essential food source for both humans and animals. Hence, our focus should be on conserving and protecting our ecosystem. This starts with bees.
Bumblebees vs. Honeybees: Who’s the Better Pollinator?
All bees play an important role in the food chain. However, it is only the bumblebee that can ‘buzz’ pollinate. They execute this technique using powerful vibrating abilities, and, together with their hairier bodies extract and transfer ‘stubborn’ pollen from the anthers of certain plants, ensuring the growth of fruit and vegetable favorites, like potatoes, eggplants, tomatoes, cranberries, and blueberries.
Decline in Population: A Troubling Trend
It is extremely concerning to note that the Rusty Patched Bumble Bees population is standing at a mere tenth of what it used to be – in a space of just two decades. Understandably, it was and is the right time to raise the alarm bells for this bumblebee species in the continental United States to help preserve their numbers. Fortunately, they are now listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act of 2017. Efforts can now be made to make a difference in this area.
The Destitute Bumblebee
One of the primary reasons for the decline of the Rusty Patched Bumblebee is habitat loss. The Rusty Patched Bumblebee is slowly but surely becoming destitute as a result of ongoing urban development, deforestation, and agricultural expansion. The rearrangement and devastation of their natural habitat is dire. This makes it more difficult for the Rusty Patched Bumblebee to function and thrive in nature as they normally would.
Pesticides: The Silent Killers
Certainly, there is a valid argument for the use of pesticides on crops to prevent the destruction and contamination thereof from harmful insects. However, this approach also, inadvertently, has a devastating effect on the bee population as a whole. An example of a particularly harmful pesticide is neonicotinoids. These chemicals effectively work against the Rusty Patched Bumblebee, weakening their immune systems, reducing reproductive success, and increasing vulnerability to diseases, all of which drastically compromise their role and survival in the wild.
Climate Change and Its Concerning Effects
Climate change is real and ever-changing. Where weather patterns were once predictable to some degree, extreme changes in temperature and forces of nature have left the Rusty Patched Bumblebee floundering for its survival. Due to seasons and weather patterns being all over the place, there are imbalances in their food supply which impact the plants they pollinate, which also end up impacting the plants, fruits, and vegetables we consume.
Disease and Parasites: Hidden Dangers
Another contributor to the decline of the Rusty Patched Bumblebee is sickness-inducing parasites, such as the Nosema fungus. When this parasite is excreted from an infected bee, it can be ingested and passed on from bee to bee, making the bee weak because it can’t absorb and retain essential nutrients from its food. Unfortunately, this disease can spread quickly and can end up annihilating an entire colony if not attended to through prompt eradication efforts.
Conservation Efforts: A Buzz of Hope
It’s comforting to know that efforts to conserve the Rusty Patched Bumblebee are already underway, with organizations like the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Wildlife Preservation Canada working to protect and restore habitats, reduce pesticide farming, and educate the public regarding the importance of pollinators for lush and healthy flora.
What Can I Do?
Anyone can contribute to the conservation of the Rusty Patched Bumblebee by being a conscious pollinator supporter. We can achieve this by sourcing and planting bee-friendly plants, ensuring bees have the pick of the crop regarding adequate food sources (which also provides more opportunities for cross-pollination). Plants like scarlet beebalm, lavender, sunflowers, echinacea, and anise hyssop are good options, as are native flowers and fruit trees that bloom frequently and for extended periods. Try to eliminate the use of pesticides. And don’t do away with all your weeds if you don’t have to, as bees love these!
Community Involvement: Strength in Numbers
There is strength in numbers, so it makes sense to collaborate with communities to create more awareness around conversation efforts like this – as well as doubling down on what can be achieved through combined knowledge, effort and action. After all, innovation is usually a by-product of great minds pulling together in support of a cause that requires a collective effort to make the biggest difference.
The Future of the Rusty Patched Bumblebee
The future of the Rusty Patched Bumblebee is cautiously optimistic; it depends on concerted conservation efforts to make a difference. While some challenges are beyond our control, there are some things we can do to ensure a brighter outlook for them. With continued action and careful consideration for some of nature’s hardest workers, we can reverse their decline and promote their survival in the long term.
Conclusion
The plight of the Rusty Patched Bumblebee is, without a doubt, extremely urgent. Protecting this species is not just about saving a single bee, but also about preserving the intricate web of life that sustains us all. So, let’s do something about it now before the effects (and its devastation) are irreversible.
- Say ‘No’ to the Invasion of Squirrels in Gardens Around America - September 14, 2024
- A Study of the Palaeophis Colossaeus – The Snake Who Made the Oceans Tremble - September 13, 2024
- Hungry Great White Shark Opts for Pregnant Shark for Dinner - September 10, 2024