When scientist Peter Soroye first saw the figures showing estimated bumblebee populations in North America had fallen by nearly 50 per cent in a single generation, he thought it must be a typo. He checked the numbers – the result of a long-term analysis of bumblebee populations published in the journal Science on Thursday – seven times to be sure they were accurate. Rising temperatures are contributing to drastic declines of bumblebees across Europe and North America at rates “consistent with a mass extinction”, threatening food cultivation, the study concluded. But Mr Soroye said global warming was exacerbating their plight. “When they land on flowers, they physically shake these flowers and shake the pollen off,” said Mr Soroye.

Source: The Irish Times February 07, 2020 10:07 UTC