Seven species of yellow-faced bee were added in a list that would give them protection under the Endangered Species Act. The listing which was made on Friday of Hawaii's only native bees marks the first time for any bee in the United States.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service made the decision following years of study conducted by Xerces Society, whose objective is provide protection to pollinators. The conservation group pushed federal wildlife authorities to intervene on behalf of the bees in 2009.
The bees, which can be found in a range of habitats in Hawaii from forests to coastal environments, are critical for maintaining the health of the islands' plants and animals, said Fish and Wildlife spokesman Brent Lawrence.
Sarina Jepson of the Xerces Society said that while the yellow-faced bees can be found in other places in the world, the species tend to pollinate only the plant species that are indigenous to the islands.
Among the threats the bees face include non-native species that cause devastating impacts on the ecosystem. No critical habitat was attached to the listing but the protection would provide authorities with more freedom to do more than previously allowed.
Lawrence said that listing the species as endangered can help draw attention to the threats that have brought the bees close to extinction. Authorities can also start the process that could hopefully bring about recovery.
Karl Magnacca, an entomologist who collaborated with Xerces on bee studies, explained that the bees favor the more dominant trees and shrubs that are found in Hawaii. He said that while listing the bees as endangered may not be necessarily appropriate and that there are other rare insects that deserve to be protected, Hawaii has such a huge diversity that needs to be protected.
A possible extinction could have a domino effect. If the bees were removed from the ecosystem, it is likely that the plants that they pollinate would not also survive. The plants do not only provide nesting habitat and food for the pollinators but they also serve as home for other animals.
"(The bees) help maintain the structure of the whole forest," Magnacca said.
The seven yellow-faced bee species namely Hylaeus anthracinus, H. assimulans, H. facilis, H. hilaris, H. kuakea, H. longiceps, and H. mana along with nine other animal species and 39 plant species will be protected by the Endangered Species act starting Oct. 31.
Photo: Katja Schulz | Flickr
