Bumblebees are large, hairy insects that play an important role in pollination. They are essential in the reproduction of many plants, including fruits and vegetables as well as wildflowers.
A Social Insect
Bumblebees are social insects that form colonies, which for some species can number in the hundreds but also is possible to be as few as 15 individuals. There is a queen, some drones (males), and usually just 10 to a few hundred worker bees in your average bumblebee hive.
Unique Adaptations
These are some of the unique adaptations bumblebees have that allow them to survive in colder climates:
Fur: Their fur traps heat, which permits them to fly in colder weather.
Bees Create Their Own Fire: Bumblebees can shiver their flight muscles as a means of directly generating heat, allowing them to become hot in short order.
Buzz Pollination : There are Bumblebees as well which uses buzz pollination technique to release pollen from the flowers with specialized structures.
Threats to Bumblebees
Bumblebees are going through a lot of the same issues that honey bees are, and facing them in much greater numbers.
The loss of natural habitats — meadows, wildflowers etc. on which bumblebees rely for food sources
Pesticides: Bumblebees can be adversely affected or killed with pesticide exposure.
Climatic changes: Climatic variations can alter the flowering period of plants causing scarcity to food for bumblebees.
Diseases and parasites: bumblebees are prone to many diseases and parasitic infections.
Protecting Bumblebees
To help bumblebees, we can:
These can be catered for fairly easily by planting bee-friendly flowers that blossom at different times of the year.
Pesticides: Keep away from : Select natural ways to control pests.
Build beds for bumble bees: Native plants and nests
Help conservation: Contribute to organizations which are speaking out for pollinators.
With the knowledge of just how important bumblebees are in our environment, we must do what we can to protect them if for no other reason than guaranteeing a safe world for planet Earth’s next generation.