Non-native bumblebee declaration

[webteam]

Just posted on the CNPS website: Notice of Intent to adopt a Negative Declaration for a proposal to introduce a non-native bumblebee, Bombus impatiens, into the agro-ecological system of the state of California for crop pollination. (This is a 302kb PDF)

[buckyoh]

California has been importing bees for a while now. Specifically for the almond industry. Bees get brought in from as far away as Florida to help pollinate. Unfortunately many hives die in transit from these areas, which is tragic given the declining bee population. If we lose all the bees, we are really going to suffer.

[buckyoh]

Here's more info if anyone is interested.

https://healthimpactnews.com/2014/ar...-s-bee-supply/

[Paul]

We have about 1,600 species (of native bees) in California, 4,000 in the US, and 20,000 worldwide.

https://baynature.org/2014/06/19/gor...kie-revisited/

https://www.google.com/search?q=nati...nt=firefox-b-1

There are plenty of native bees to do the job if they have the native plant habitat to maintain themselves.

Saving California native animals goes hand in hand with saving California native plants.