Are we ready for a world without bees, without pollinators or insects? Why does it matter? If the insects and pollinators disappear, so to do the flowers. Yes, robotic bees, machines and human hands can ensure that our apples and cherries get pollinated, but what about everything else.
It is our mission at Zitavex foundation to encourage all continued efforts to save not just honeybees but all insects and pollinators by encouraging a robust medical market for the honey they make, but also for the wild plants and flowers that will disappear without them. What kind of effort does it take to make swarm, armies of robotic bees? Let’s get behind the right future, one where our pollination comes naturally and free.
Over 70 people scoured Mt. Ashland for a Franklin’s bumble bee as part of the annual Bee Blitz. It was the biggest turnout in the history of the survey, which has taken place in July for over a decade.
After over a decade of searching, researchers don’t know if Franklin’s bumble bee will ever be seen again. Last week, over 70 people searched Mt. Ashland for a specimen as part of the annual Bee Blitz. It was the biggest turnout in the history of the survey, which has taken place in July for over a decade.
Before Franklin’s bumble bee disappeared from the landscape in 2006, it could only be found in five counties between Southwest Oregon and Northern California, which makes it one of the most range-restricted bumblebees in the world. The bee was listed as an endangered species in 2021.
Jeff Everett, the lead biologist for Franklin’s bumble bee and the organizer of the event, said that finding just one specimen of the species would be a major milestone for research and conservation.
“If we can locate Franklin’s on the landscape, we can not only bring more meaningful conservation tools to bear to protect and recover the species, but we can also learn more about why it was here and take some of those lessons and apply them to other at-risk pollinators,” Everett said.
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