Is Global Warming Impacting the Worldwide Bee Population?

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GLOBAL – The hardworking bumblebee is known to go about its business pollinating flowers.

The warm weather might seem like a good thing for bees, but experts are warning this is not the case.

Professor Mark Brown from the Department of Zoology at the UK’s University of Cambridge has been studying bees for nearly three decades, and he says the record temperatures are another threat to bees who are not adapted to these extremes.

Professor Mark Brown – Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge

“What we’re seeing are these really extreme temperatures being maintained for much longer and occurring more frequently, and they’re not adapted to that, because that’s not a historical weather pattern that they have lived with.”

Bumblebees are instantly recognizable because of their fluffy jackets, which lock in heat and keep them warm in colder conditions.

However, wearing a hairy jacket in a heatwave is not so much fun.

“…They’re fluffy, they’re adorable and they’re covered with hairs because they’ve really evolved to deal with colder temperatures.”

While bumblebees can be found in the Caribbean, honeybees are more common in The Bahamas.

So, how are the recent scorching temperatures impacting them?

Well, it turns out honeybees are better adapted to the hot weather, but a consequence of drought and extreme heat is that the sources of food for the bees become more scarce.

Without rain there are fewer flowers and water sources dry up.

To keep the population thriving, experts recommend not completely eliminating weeds and bramble.

Even as honey bees need some help during the heatwave, adding an insulating layer at the top of the hive can help absorb the worst of the sun’s heat.

Also, always remember, bees are vital pollinators who can be helpful to humans.