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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Environment
Sophie Kevany

THE TRUTH ABOUT: Bumblebee nests are overheating to fatal levels study finds - Caught on Camera

The common carder bee (Bombus pascuorum) spotted in West Yorkshire.
The common carder bee (a species of the Bombus, or bumblebee, genus) browses in West Yorkshire. The study suggested most bumblebee broods would not survive at temperatures above 36C. Photograph: Rebecca Cole/Alamy

Bumblebee nests may be overheating, killing off broods and placing one of the Earth’s critical pollinators in decline as temperatures rise, new research has found.

Around the world, many species of Bombus, or bumblebee, have suffered population declines due to global heating, the research said. Bumblebee colonies are known for their ability to thermoregulate: in hot conditions, worker bees gather to beat their wings and fan the hive, cooling it down. But as the climate crisis pushes average temperatures up and generates heatwaves, bumblebees will struggle to keep their homes habitable.

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