Bees placed on endangered species list — a first in the US

THE US is on a mission to save one of nature’s busiest workers — bees! Seven species have now been placed on the endangered list.

Who knew that bees were in such short numbers in the US. Picture: AFP

THE US is on a mission to save one of nature’s busiest workers — bees! Seven species have now been placed on the endangered list.

CNN reports that the US Fish and Wildlife Service added the yellow-faced bee species to the federal list of endangered species on Friday night.

The seven species of bees will start being protected from October 31.

A yellow-faced bee is shown in Hawaii. It is one of seven species which will now be protected. Picture: AP

It is not just a case of saving the species but an exercise in self preservation as bees pollinate plants producing fruits, vegetables and nuts, which represent a big percentage of the country’s diet.

Wildfire, habitat loss and an erosion of genetic diversity has seen bee populations shrink.

“Native pollinators in the US provide essential pollination services to agriculture which are valued at more than $9 billion annually,” said Eric Lee-Mäder, pollinator program co-director at the Xerces Society.

Now that the bees are slated for protection it means they will be the subject of new funding as well as programs aimed at boosting their numbers.