Four of the 50 species of bumblebees found in the U.S. are "significantly in trouble," a University of Illinois entomology professor said recently. The professor said the analysis only covered eight species, so "this could be the tip of the iceberg." The finding is similar to ones in other reports that documented huge declines in honeybee populations. Using historical records from the late 1800s, they found the relative abundance of the four species decreased by up to 96 per cent since that period, and their geographic range contracted by between 23 and 87 per cent.
The study said that the declining populations had higher infection levels of the pathogen Nosema bombi than unaffected populations. This is a parasite that can render bumblebees helpless and unable to function, and eventually kill them.
This is a huge decline over 200 years and I have even noticed fewer bees in my backyard over the last few years. I never liked bees after being stung by one in our garage attic but I know they are very important in pollination of our crops, flowers and trees. Scientists will have to study this pathogen very closely and develop some kind of a treatment or cure.
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