Bees are struggling with the extreme weather. Volatile conditions last year ranging from snowstorms to drought caused a reduction in bumblebee numbers, according to data from the ‘BeeWalks’ survey scheme. Most of the 24 species of UK bumblebee got off to a slow start and only reached normal numbers in July, which experts said suggested the queen bees were late out of hibernation and slow to produce large numbers of workers. The early bumblebee had its worst year since rain drenched 2012, while common species such as the garden, buff-tailed, heath and white-tailed bumblebees all had poor years. Experts blamed climate change, with freezing conditions in late February and early March delaying the start of bumblebee season and a hot, dry summer causing a quicker decline in numbers over the summer. Bumblebee Conservation Trust chief executive Gill Perkins said: ‘I’m particularly concerned by the declines reported in some of our common garden species.’ She added: ‘We all need to make sure our gardens, parks and green spaces are bumblebee-friendly to stop today’s common species becoming tomorrow’s rarities.’ Bumblebees in the UK could also face long-term problems from the more frequent heatwaves the country is likely to see with climate change, the wildlife organisation warned. It was not all bad news though. Some species of bee, including the brown-banded carder bee, the shrill carder bee and the large garden bee, thrived because they love warm temperatures. These bees emerge later in the year so the extreme icy and cold temperatures at the start of 2018 did not have an impact on them. They were also part of a conservation project to help protect their numbers. Bumblebee Conservation Trust science manager Dr Richard Comont said: ‘Whilst it is great to see the four “biggest species winners” from our latest ‘BeeWalk’ data are rare bumblebees, it’s concerning to see four of our seven commonest bumblebees have declined over the last nine years.’
UK bumblebees are losing in the battle against climate change, with extreme weather leading to a population decline in 2018, according to a BeeWalk survey. The majority of the 24 native species took longer to reach average numbers, with experts suggesting queen bees came out of hibernation late, due to cold conditions in February and March 2018. A hot, dry summer then led to a quicker decline in numbers. Scientists have blamed poor visibility for some declines but others say it is down to pesticides, which can be absorbed by plants or animals when they land on flowers.