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British To Help Bumblebees

By grrlscientist on April 16, 2007.

Bumblebee in flight.

Image source: Andreas Tille, 2002.

I don't know about you, but I love bumblebees: they are one of my most favorite animals, in fact. So I find it very sad to know that bumblebee populations are declining around the world. But the British are doing something to help these fuzzy insects recover their populations.

The Bumblebee Conservation Trust is asking the public to help survey bumblebees and report the different species they find. Unfortunately, they will be reporting fewer species now than they would have several years ago because recent studies reveal that three species have already become extinct in Britain.

"People will be surprised to hear that there are actually 25 different species of bumblebee and six or so of them are common in people's gardens," said Ben Darvill from the trust. Studies show that another nine species are endangered. Yet, despite this, there is plenty that the public can do to help recover bumblebee populations.

"Gardeners can do a lot to help just by planting the right sorts of plants in their garden by moving away from traditional bedding plants to more cottage garden styles of plants," explained Darvill.

Those wishing to take part in the bumblebee survey are asked to record the insects in their area by taking photographs and emailing the trust.

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Endangered Species

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Although most native bee species are ground-nesters, some use insect burrows in wood as a nesting venue. One can buy or make nesting boxes for the wod-nesters. There was an article in the Jan-Feb 2006 issue of AUDUBON on how to build a bee nesting box. Or one can read over Internet sites for information. Native wildflowers are a useful nectar source to which endemic and native bees have been long-adapted. The local populations of Gaillardia pulchra in Houston are, for example, a can't-miss lure for leaf-cutter bees. Gaillardia is also a long bloomer that will keep pushing out flowers even if one does not dead-head old flowers and seed heads.Although hybrid seeds are sold in garden centers, one can take seeds or stem cuttings from native populations for cultivation with likely better results for local pollinating insects. Plants commercially bred for other qualities often are shortchanged on nectar-producing ability.

By biosparite (not verified) on 16 Apr 2007 #permalink

http://news.independent.co.uk/environment/wildlife/article2449968.ece reports today that one possibility for all the disappearing bees is cell phone radiation.

They are putting forward the theory that radiation given off by mobile phones and other hi-tech gadgets is a possible answer to one of the more bizarre mysteries ever to happen in the natural world - the abrupt disappearance of the bees that pollinate crops. Late last week, some bee-keepers claimed that the phenomenon - which started in the US, then spread to continental Europe - was beginning to hit Britain as well.

The theory is that radiation from mobile phones interferes with bees' navigation systems, preventing the famously homeloving species from finding their way back to their hives. Improbable as it may seem, there is now evidence to back this up.

[snip]

Now a limited study at Landau University has found that bees refuse to return to their hives when mobile phones are placed nearby. Dr Jochen Kuhn, who carried it out, said this could provide a "hint" to a possible cause.

interesting - not enough study yet but certainly interesting. If true then major problems ahead.