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<td style="background-color: rgb(204, 204, 153); border-top: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom: 0px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); text-align: center;" align="center" bgcolor="#cccc99"><div align="right"><span style="font-size: 10px; color: rgb(153, 102, 0); line-height: 150%; font-family: verdana; text-decoration: none;">Email not displaying
correctly? <a href="http://www.xerces.org/press-releases/hylaeus-90-day.html" style="font-size: 10px; color: rgb(153, 102, 0); line-height: 150%; font-family: verdana; text-decoration: none;">View it in your browser.</a><a href="http://www.xerces.org/press-releases/hylaeus-90-day.html"></a></span></div>
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<td style="border-top: 0px solid rgb(51, 51, 51);" valign="middle" align="left" bgcolor="#ffffff" height="240"><center><a href="http://www.xerces.org/press-releases/hylaeus-90-day.html"></a>
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<td style="font-size: 12px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: 120%; font-family: trebuchet ms;" valign="top" width="558" bgcolor="#ffffff" height="596"><p>For immediate release<br>
June 16, 2010<br>
<br>
<em><strong>Contact: </strong></em><br>
<strong>Sarina Jepsen</strong>, Endangered Species Program Director,
The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation; 503-232-6639<strong></strong></p>
<p class="style10" align="center">SEVEN RARE HAWAIIAN POLLINATORS CLOSER
TO PROTECTION UNDER THE ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT</p>
<p><strong><br>
Portland, OR</strong>, Responding to a petition from the Xerces
Society for Invertebrate Conservation, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service (Service) today issued a positive 90-day finding for seven
species of Hawaiian yellow-faced bees, determining that protection
under the Endangered Species Act may be warranted and initiating a
status review for the species.<br>
<br>
Although a scientist in the early 1900s called Hawaiian yellow-faced
bees “almost the most ubiquitous of any Hawaiian insects,” more recent
surveys by biologist Karl Magnacca have demonstrated that seven
species – <em>Hylaeus anthracinus, Hylaeus longiceps, Hylaeus
assimulans, Hylaeus facilis, Hylaeus hilaris, Hylaeus kuakea and
Hylaeus mana</em> —are in imminent danger of going extinct. <br>
<br>
“We are pleased that the Service has recognized the many threats
that these rare bees face, from habitat destruction to invasive
species,” said Sarina Jepsen, Endangered Species Program Director of
The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation. “We believe the
Service’s review will show that these species meet the criteria for
listing under the Endangered Species Act.” <br>
<br>
Despite their small size, Hawaiian yellow-faced bees are extremely
important. They are critical pollinators of many endangered native
Hawaiian plants and the decline of these bees could lead to the
extinction of endangered plants. Recognizing the endangerment of
numerous native Hawaiian plant species, the Service has granted
Endangered Species Act protection to over 300 Hawaiian plants.
Protection of these imperiled pollinators will benefit both the bees
and the rare plants that they pollinate.<br>
<br>
“Pollinators are keystone species in many ecosystems,” said Scott
Hoffman Black, Executive Director of the Xerces Society for
Invertebrate Conservation. “But these Hawaiian yellow-faced bees are
likely even more important since many Hawaiian native plant species are
not well adapted to pollination by non-native pollinators.”<br>
<br>
The most notable threats to Hawaiian yellow-faced bees include: loss
of habitat due to development (especially in coastal areas), fire, the
impact of feral ungulates such as pigs, predation by invasive ants,
and the loss of native vegetation to invasive plant species.
Conservation of these important pollinators will require the active
management of natural areas where populations are known to exist. <br>
<br>
Hawaiian yellow-faced bees were historically found on all of the
Hawaiian Islands and in a variety of habitats, including coasts, dry
forests and shrublands, mesic and wet forests, and subalpine
shrublands. The conservation of these imperiled Hawaiian yellow face
bees will require the active control and management of natural areas
where populations are known to exist.<br>
<a href="http://www.xerces.org/hawaiian-yellow-faced-bees/" target="_blank"><br>
Read more about Hawaiian yellow-faced bees</a> >></p>
<p align="left"><span class="style10">ABOUT THE XERCES SOCIETY </span><br>
<a href="http://www.xerces.org/">The Xerces Society</a> is an
international, nonprofit organization that protects wildlife through
the conservation of invertebrates and their habitat. For over three
decades, the Society has been at the forefront of invertebrate
conservation, harnessing the knowledge of scientists and the enthusiasm
of citizens to implement conservation programs. </p>
<p align="left"><span class="style10">PHOTO CREDIT </span><br>
Hawaiian yellow-faced bee (<em>Hylaeus </em>sp.) pollinating the
plant <em>Astelia</em> by Karl Magnacca. </p>
<p align="left">###</p></td>
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<p style="font-size: 10px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 100%; font-family: verdana;" align="center"> The Xerces Society • 4828 SE
Hawthorne Blvd. Portland, Oregon 97215 USA • tel 503.232.6639 <br>
<br>
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<p style="font-size: 10px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 100%; font-family: verdana;" align="center">Copyright (C) 2008 The Xerces
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