[Pollinator] A first for the continental U.S. -- a bee protected under the ESA?

[Matthew Shepherd]

Yesterday, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced that it is
proposing to list the rusty patched bumble bee (*Bombus affinis*) as an
endangered species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The proposed
rule is published in the Federal Register today (9/22). This will be the
first bee to gain protection in the continental United States, and is
fantastic news that caps several years work by Xerces staff and our
partners.



To read the story of this bee and the work to protect it, see
http://xerces.org/rustypatched



There is also an article on the Xerces blog that gives more in-depth
information about the threats facing the rusty patched bumble bee as well
as the years of citizen science effort and the many collaborators that
helped build the evidence base that informed the ESA petition:
http://www.xerces.org/blog/usfws-esa-protection-rusty-patched/



The USFWS decision was in response to an ESA petition submitted by the
Xerces Society in 2013, which was written by Xerces staff, Dr. Robbin
Thorp, and Dr. Elaine Evans, and based upon research by many scientists,
including Dr. Sydney Cameron and Dr. Sheila Colla. Lawyers from the Natural
Resources Defense Council subsequently represented the Xerces Society;
their work led to a settlement agreement that compelled the USFWS to reach
a decision. In addition, we thank Dr. Leif Richardson for his work
compiling a database of specimen records, and the valuable input from Dr.
Paul Williams and other scientists in the IUCN Bumblebee Specialist Group
that led to the IUCN Red List assessment for *Bombus affinis* (
http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/44937399/0). This was submitted to the
USFWS, and may have helped to provide evidence for this decision.



We also want to recognize the inspiring work of photographer Clay Bolt and
videographer Neil Losin, whose collaboration on the beautiful film “A Ghost
in the Making” (http://www.rustypatched.com/the-film/) led to great
publicity for the plight of the rusty patched bumble bee. This film also
sparked interest in a petition that was signed by over 128,000 people
urging the USFWS to protect the bumble bee.



In case you still want to read more about today’s action by the USFWS:



FROM: Reuters

*Rusty patched bumble bee proposed for U.S. endangered species status*

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-bumblebee-idUSKCN11R2TI



FROM: Christian Science Monitor

*Could putting a bumble bee on the endangered list save it?*

http://www.csmonitor.com/Environment/2016/0922/Could-putting-a-bumble-bee-on-the-endangered-list-save-it



FROM: Federal Register, today’s publication of the proposed rule

https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2016/09/22/2016-22799/endangered-and-threatened-wildlife-and-plants-endangered-species-status-for-rusty-patched-bumble-bee



And finally, if you were wondering about the comment at the top about the
rusty patched bumble bee being the first bee in the continental US to be
protected, the first bees to gain protection under the ESA are a group of
seven species of Hawaiian *Hylaeus* (yellow faced) bees. These were also
listed as the result of a petition from the Xerces Society:
http://www.xerces.org/2015/09/30/seven-native-hawaiian-pollinators-proposed-as-endangered-species/.




Matthew





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Matthew Shepherd

Communications Director



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Protecting the Life That Sustains Us



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