The decline of bumblebees spells disaster for the ecosystem

It should be easy to step outside in the warmer spring months and find multiple bumblebees flitting about the yard and hovering among the flowers. However, as of late, this scene may soon disappear. A recent study published in Science has shown that bumblebee populations are rapidly dropping due to climate change and rising global temperatures. 

Since 1974, the number of areas populated by bumblebees have dropped by an immense 46 percent in North America alone, according to the Washington Post, along with a 17 percent drop in Europe. 

This decline in bumblebee’s population stems from a multitude of issues, most of which are traced back to human interference. The main reason for the loss of bumblebees is accredited to climate change, specifically the rise in temperature and precipitation. According to CNN, bumblebees prefer cooler, slightly wet climates. Due to this, the new warm and humid climate has killed bee populations. 

Along with climate change, other human actions are causing the decline in bumblebee populations. Pesticides and destruction of the bees’ habitats have also contributed to the loss of bees. 

Pesticides are manufactured to keep insects and other small animals away, and bumblebees are no exception. The pesticides can be toxic to bees and kill them when they crawl over a sprayed surface. Furthermore, certain pesticides can prevent the bees from reproducing, according to The Guardian. 

Bumblebees, the large, fuzzy insects with stubby wings, are a vital aspect of the environment many do not pay much attention to. Bumblebees, widely regarded as one of the Earth’s most important pollinators, play an immense part in the Earth’s ecosystem. 

Around 84 percent of crops for human consumption require pollination by insects, and over a third of that food consumed by humans has been pollinated by bees according to The Guardian. 

It is due to these facts that this recent drop in bumblebee populations is a major issue to both the Earth’s ecosystem and humans themselves. 

Furthermore, actions such as deforestation, which is already harmful to the environment, are among those that can destroy bumblebee’s habitats. This lack of bees in the environment can have an effect on locations such as Montgomery County, possibly leading to issues among plant life. Several MCPS students agree that something needs to be done to help the bumblebees. 

“More recognition and awareness needs to be spread,” Rockville junior Megan Awong said. “People don’t really think about trying to put back beehives or things like that.”

Others mentioned how they were unaware that the problem was so drastic. 

“I had heard about the bees populations going down, but I never knew it was so bad,” Rockville senior Leeloo Blunt said.

Article by Alexandra Amaya of Rockville High School

Graphic by Angelina Guhl of Richard Montgomery High School