Meet the Most Endangered Bees: A Look at Species on the Brink
- Angie Cercle
- Jun 9
- 5 min read
Bees are the smallest, unsung superheroes of our ecosystems and agriculture. They buzz around, transferring pollen from flower to flower; from a single trip they could have visited at least a hundred flowers. They pollinate not just flowers but also support a rich variety of plants that create habitats for life, produce our tables and maintain an ecological balance.
Most tiny critters, such as butterflies, bats or moths may feed on the nectar of a flower but it is the bee that comes close to the flowers’ anthers, collecting the important pollen. Their efforts are monumental and without bees, Earth would not exist the way it does.
Why Are Bees Endangered?
In the past century, the population of bees around the world is dropping and there is reason to be alarmed. There are multiple reasons to explain the plummeting numbers of bees but the sole contributor to their decline falls on humans.
It is widely accepted that a combination of habitat loss, poisoning from pesticides, and a condition known as colony collapse disorder is causing bees to go extinct. However, with the unintentional aid of humans, the introduction of non-native, invasive species have also played a role against bees such as Asian Hornets (Vvespa mandarinia) and Bombus terrestris- ironically, a bumblebee wide in abundance.
Together, we will take a look at a few critically endangered bees that will not exist for much longer if we don’t take action to help these mighty heroes.
1. Rusty-Patched Bumblebee (Bombus affinis)
A bee once common in North America, is now a critically endangered species according to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species and listed as federally endangered as of 2017. The b.affinis population faced a decline in the late 1990s, with an estimated ~70%–90% loss in its historical range. In their native eastern region of North America, b.affinis was before an important actor of the pollination of wildflowers, cranberries, apples and other important crops.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife claim to not know the exact reason for their endangerment but evidence points to a reciprocal relationship between exposure to pesticides, particularly fungicides and insecticides, and an introduced pathogen.
Thankfully these species have been in the hands of conservations and as of 2021, a recovery plan has been set to protect these humble little pollinators. If you ever want to know how b.affinis got their name, it’s all due to the rust-coloured patch found on the abdomens of the workers and males.
2. Franklin’s Bee (Bombus franklini)
These species of bees can only be found in a specific part of the Coast and Sierra-Cascade mountain ranges and can be easily identified by an extended yellow patch on its anterior top of the thorax, forming an upside-down U-shape. The bees thrive on floral plants and provide essential pollination to popular plants such as tomatoes and blueberries.
B.franklini face a particular threat from commercial bees (e.g. the European Honeybee [Apis mellifera], Bombus terrestris). The introduction of these non-native invasive species have introduced diseases and genetic disorders that disrupt the population of the native bees. As of 2009, these bees have been listed as critically imperiled.
Uniquely, B.franklini tend to make abandoned rodent burrows their home and with the rise of deforestation, this leads to colonies becoming fragmented and a closer step to extinction. At the moment, there are no formal efforts to protect these bees.
3. Moscardón aka Patagonian Bee (Bombus dahlbomii)
Notably this bee has a few unique names and for a very cool reason! Also known as the “flying mouse”, b.dalhbomii is one of the world’s largest bumble bees- with queens reaching to a size of three centimeters! These species can be found in the most southern part of South America, Chile and Patagonia to be exact.
Unfortunately these small giants are facing an extreme danger of extinction due to the invading Bombus terrestris. These bees were imported to South America in the late 1990s in order to encourage commercial pollination for an increase in agricultural production. However, b.dahlbomii soon began to face the consequences of the invasive species.
Scientists estimate that, over the past 20 years, the native b.dahlbomii population has declined by 80%. As the non-native bees spread more across the ranges and plains for South America, disease, competition for food and loss of habitat are the future for the majestic Mascardón bees.
Why Their Survival Matters
Bee survival is crucial for maintaining biodiversity and the stability of our food systems. The evolution of many flowers has been shaped by the need to attract bees, with flowers evolving to favour colours in the ultraviolet spectrum, which bees can perceive, rather than reds, and emitting strong, sweet scents when their pollen is ready.
This relationship between bees and flowers is essential for pollination, as it is estimated that around 80% of flowering plants rely on pollinators like bees for reproduction. Bees support over 35% of global agricultural land, helping to produce fruits, vegetables, and other crops.
Without bees, many of these food sources would diminish, threatening food security and ecosystem health. Their disappearance would be devastating for both natural habitats and human livelihoods, making their protection a critical concern.
How Can We Help
We can all benefit from the product of bee’s pollination efforts, so we can all chip in to save them from further extinction. Beginning with prohibiting the use of dangerous pesticides in order to provide bees with healthier and higher quality habitats.
Take up (native) beekeeping! Learn how to manage native colonies of bees and educate your local community on the important impact bees have on our environment. Plus, there is a guaranteed sweet bonus of increased pollination to entice others to join!
If you have a greener thumb, plant native flowers and other plants that bees can pollinate. Make sure to do your research on which flowers and use organic products along the way. Lastly, participate in projects and communities such as those at Planet Bee Foundation, who take strides everyday to make sure bees stick around for a long time.
References
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Cameron, S. A., & Sadd, B. M. (2020). Global Trends in Bumble Bee Health. Annual Review of Entomology, 65(1), 209–232. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-ento-011118-111847
Campos Gonzalez, M. (2022). La Importacion del Abejorro Europeo y Su Impacto Medioambiental en el Ecosistema Nacional [Master’s Seminar Thesis]. https://academia248-my.sharepoint.com/personal/mauricio_campos_uacademia_cl/_layouts/15/onedrive.aspx?id=%2Fpersonal%2Fmauricio%5Fcampos%5Fuacademia%5Fcl%2FDocuments%2FReportaje%2FENTREGA%20FINAL%2FAnexos%2F%5BENTREGA%20FINAL%5D%20Seminario%20de%20Investigaci%C3%B3n%20I%20%2D%20Mauricio%20Campos%2Epdf&parent=%2Fpersonal%2Fmauricio%5Fcampos%5Fuacademia%5Fcl%2FDocuments%2FReportaje%2FENTREGA%20FINAL%2FAnexos&ga=1
Cole, E. (n.d.). Franklin’s Bumble Bee. U.S. Forest Service. https://www.fs.usda.gov/wildflowers/pollinators/pollinator-of-the-month/franklins-bumble-bee.shtml
Cox, D. (2019, January 16). Bumblebees of the World . . . #1 Bombus dahlbomii - Bumblebee Conservation Trust. Bumblebee Conservation Trust. https://www.bumblebeeconservation.org/bumblebees-of-the-world-1-bombus-dahlbomii/
Mola, J. M., Pearse, I. S., Boone, M. L., Evans, E., Hepner, M. J., Jean, R. P., Kochanski, J. M., Nordmeyer, C., Runquist, E., Smith, T. A., Strange, J. P., Watson, J., & Koch, J. B. U. (2024). Range-wide genetic analysis of an endangered bumble bee (Bombus affinis, Hymenoptera: Apidae) reveals population structure, isolation by distance, and low colony abundance. Journal of Insect Science, 24(2). https://doi.org/10.1093/jisesa/ieae041
Rusty Patched Bumble Bee | Xerces Society. (2017). Xerces Society. https://www.xerces.org/endangered-species/species-profiles/at-risk-bumble-bees/rusty-patched-bumble-bee
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. (n.d.). Bombus affinis | U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Www.fws.gov. https://www.fws.gov/species/rusty-patched-bumble-bee-bombus-affinis
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