Climate change is killing bees—increasing temperature, disrupts food patterns, and destroys habitats

Climate change is a force multiplier Researchers don’t know exactly how climate change will affect bee health. But they suspect it will add to existing stresses. For example, if pest pressures mount for farmers, bees will be exposed to more pesticides. Extreme rainfall can . Wildfires and floods may destroy bee habitat and food sources. Drought may also and from planting new areas for bees as water becomes less readily available. Most importantly, educating people and communities about bees and their importance to our food system can help create a more pollinator-friendly world. Climate change could also increase the spread of Varroa and other pathogens. Warmer fall and winter temperatures . Varroa travel on foraging bees, so longer foraging provides a larger time window for mites and the viruses they carry to spread among colonies. Higher mite populations on bee colonies heading into winter will likely cripple colony health and . Studies have already shown that climate change is between bees and flowers. As spring arrives earlier in the year, or in different regions, but bees may not be present to feed on them. Even if flowers bloom at their usual times and locations, they may under extreme weather conditions. Research that analyzes the nutritional profiles of bee forage plants and how they change under different climate scenarios will help land managers plant climate-resilient plants for different regions.