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. Their physical adaptation to cooler climates makes them susceptible to overheating and starvation during extreme temperature events.
Why it matters
Bumblebees are essential pollinators for crops and wildflowers; their decline threatens biodiversity and food security.
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.
UK species are adapted to our historically cooler climate - with fat, furry bodies that help them retain heat and powerful flight muscles that warm them as they fly.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in