Bumblebees are struggling in UK heatwaves - but you can help them
New analysis indicates that UK bumblebee populations are declining due to increasingly frequent and intense heatwaves. High temperatures prevent these pollinators from foraging and can lead to overheating, threatening their survival and the ecosystems they support.
Why it matters
Bumblebees are essential pollinators for wildflowers and crops; their decline poses a significant risk to biodiversity and food security.
Image source, Tony Jolliffe/BBC By Justin Rowlatt Climate Editor Published 13 minutes ago UK bumblebees could suffer sharp falls in their numbers as heatwaves become more frequent and intense, new analysis suggests.
The findings - shared exclusively with the BBC - draw on data from the Bumblebee Conservation Trust's long-running national monitoring scheme, which shows a decline in populations after the record-breaking heat of 2022.
The warning comes as Britain emerges from a third heatwave in as many months, with temperatures in the range where bumblebees can struggle to fly without overheating.
Bumblebees are not just one of the best-loved sights of the British summer, they are also vital pollinators, helping sustain wildflowers and some of the crops we rely on.
The impact of heatwaves is two-fold for bumblebees.
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