The [American bumblebee] species has vanished from at least eight states, mostly in the Northeast, according to the Center for Biological Diversity, a nonprofit environmental organization.
In February, the center, along with the Bombus Pollinators Association of Law Students of Albany Law School, filed a petition with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service requesting that the American bumblebee be listed under the Endangered Species Act.
Fields, grasslands and meadows provide prime habitat for the bees. Areas lost to development or agriculture reduce food sources and nesting sites. Herbicides designed to kill weeds can waft off farms, harming wildflowers the bees need for sustenance.
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The combined effects of insecticides, fungicides and other chemicals applied to crops might have significant effects on the health of the species, according to Jess Tyler, staff scientist at the Center for Biological Diversity.
Chris Novak, president and CEO CropLife America, an agrochemical trade group, says farming practices are less responsible for the bee’s decline. “The petition’s claims regarding changes in where the American bumblebee is found don’t appear to be consistent with agriculture as a significant factor,” he said.
