At the end of the world, along the Southern stretch of the American continent, journeys one of the largest bees of the world through the Patagonian landscapes of Argentina and Chile. This orange bumblebee can grow up to a size of 40 mm (1.6’’) and has a fluffy body, so it is no surprise that people call it a “flying mouse” (Bumblebee Conservation Trust). The Patagonian Bumblebee is an important pollinator that contributes to the plant richness of these landscapes. Furthermore, it is a key pollinator for many plants that only exist in these specific regions, which makes them so-called endemic plants (IUCN).

Unfortunately, the introduction of invasive European bumblebees for commercial pollination in agriculture has led to a rapid decline in the population of its Patagonian cousin. In some cases, the European bumblebees empty the nectar from endemic flowers but do not pollinate them. Therefore, the Patagonian bumblebee will no longer find food and cannot do its job of helping these special plants in their reproduction. The European bumblebees are much stronger competitors for food, and also carry some diseases that impact their Patagonian cousins. 

Although the European bumblebees were only introduced in Chile, they have also affected the native bumblebee populations in Argentina. This case shows impressively, how nature conservation must be an across-border effort. Countries must work together to make wiser decisions. Plus, every one of us can get involved: the citizen scientists from the organization “Salvemos Nuestro Abejorro/Save our Bumblebees” are reporting sightings and are creating maps to get a better overview of where the Patagonian bumblebee is still buzzing. This can be a great resource for further research and important conservation activities.

Write up by Charlotte Walter

IUCN, https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/21215142/100240441
Bumblebee Conservation Trust, https://www.bumblebeeconservation.org/bumblebees-of-the-world-1-bombus-dahlbomii
Salvemos Nuestro Abejorros, https://salvemosnuestroabejorro.wordpress.com/2019/02/16/the-different-identities-of-the-moscardon