Suckley's cuckoo bumble bee on a Gaillardia flower (Gaillardia aristata).
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has determined the Suckley’s cuckoo bumble bee should now be listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act, and are now asking for public comments.
According to a press release, Suckley’s cuckoo bumble bees are uniquely classified as social parasites, which means they depend on other bee species to raise their young.
Parasitic bees make up less than 1% of all bee species, and wildlife officials say this particular species is a good indicator of general pollinator health because of it.
Wildlife officials say the bee is native to 15 states including Arizona, but was last documented in Oregon in 2016. They also warn that pesticides, climate change, and habitat destruction are continuing threats to all pollinators.
A sixty day public comment period on the potential endangered classification is now open.
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