[Pollinator] Fwd: Plight of the Bumblebees | bioGraphic

Thu Aug 28 11:01:37 PDT 2025

Here <https://www.biographic.com/plight-of-the-bumblebees> and below is a
lovely feature of Shelia Colla and her work in the California Academy of
Sciences newsletter.

Best,
Kelly

---------- Forwarded message ---------

*From:* bioGraphic <info at biographic.com>
*Date:* August 22, 2025 at 8:01:52 AM PDT
*Subject:* *Plight of the Bumblebees | bioGraphic*

Plus: Animals of all kinds mix and mingle in underground burrows, offering
troubling opportunities for diseases to jump species.

*View online version*
<https://link.calacademy.org/nl3/Ue2qbc7jC7Qs5orUL4Ud1g?m=AccAABQFFJ4AAcsMw_IAALd8zxcAAYCsOysAnD_EABMt8wBoqIYQMHWYI1ZTQW2yqzxYC-lNFgATIFI&b=760046c8&e=ca51b24a&x=AJ7MIyjZsz8lLN6B1SswLRRpKU6qF1IUhzevnvVQtZE>
~ Below: Yellow-faced bumblebee (*Bombus vosnesenskii*) gathering pollen by
Kevin Schafer/Alamy Stock Photo
[image: This Week in bioGraphic]

Science journalists need scientists. We need them to make time to answer
our questions, to invite us to tag along in the field, to explain complex
ideas in ways that help us turn their research into plain language so we
can share their passion for their work and why it matters with our readers.
Sometimes the content is joyful, sometimes grim. Whichever it is, we’ve
often spent a lot of time interviewing maybe a dozen scientists for one
long feature story. Despite not knowing exactly how they will appear in an
article—they may not appear at all in the final edit—the vast majority of
researchers I’ve interviewed over the past 30 years have been happy to help.

One of them, for this week’s feature, “*Plight of the Bumblebees*
<https://link.calacademy.org/lnk/AccAABQFFJ4AAcsMw_IAALd8zxcAAYCsOysAnD_EABMt8wBoqIYQMHWYI1ZTQW2yqzxYC-lNFgATIFI/1/Qk7jb0s27XC1Ca7iwSonqw/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYmlvZ3JhcGhpYy5jb20vcGxpZ2h0LW9mLXRoZS1idW1ibGViZWVzLz91dG1fY2FtcGFpZ249YmlvZ3JhcGhpY19DQVNtZW1iZXJzXzIwMjUwODIyJnV0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX3NvdXJjZT1NYWlsamV0>,”
was Sheila Colla, a conservation scientist at York University in Toronto,
Ontario, who spoke to me by video many months ago. We chatted for at least
an hour and exchanged subsequent emails as I asked her questions about the
worlds of domesticated and wild bumblebees. She was always responsive and
always patient. I didn’t know until much later that, at the time, she was
grappling with terminal cancer.

A fact-checker began work on the story in early July. A couple of weeks
later, she told me that on July 6 Sheila had, as my aunt would say, left
us. I have never before had a source leave this world while I was
completing a feature.

I only knew Sheila as one of the many scientists who made time for me. And
it got me thinking about all the other scientists who have done so over the
years. Yes, some are mandated by their universities or research institutes
to perform some kind of outreach, but many are not. Every source I spoke
with for this feature was generous with their time and knowledge. But I
especially want to call out Sheila, who knew she did not have much time
left.

Sheila accomplished a lot in her 43 years, and the natural world is better
for it. Please take the time to read about her exuberant embrace of life,
in all its forms, *here*
<https://link.calacademy.org/lnk/AccAABQFFJ4AAcsMw_IAALd8zxcAAYCsOysAnD_EABMt8wBoqIYQMHWYI1ZTQW2yqzxYC-lNFgATIFI/2/E4Jj-aJDKKAL-NICYvkGEQ/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaGVyaXRhZ2VmdW5lcmFsY2VudHJlLmNhL29iaXR1YXJpZXMvU2hlaWxhLVJhZmFlbGxhLUNvbGxhP29iSWQ9NDMzMDkxMDUmdXRtX2NhbXBhaWduPWJpb2dyYXBoaWNfQ0FTbWVtYmVyc18yMDI1MDgyMiZ1dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsJnV0bV9zb3VyY2U9TWFpbGpldA>
.

Jude Isabella
Grateful for those who generously give their time and expertise for the
public good

*This Week’s Stories*
[image: image from story]
<https://link.calacademy.org/lnk/AccAABQFFJ4AAcsMw_IAALd8zxcAAYCsOysAnD_EABMt8wBoqIYQMHWYI1ZTQW2yqzxYC-lNFgATIFI/3/sPis0bUVX40BigT1O53RyA/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYmlvZ3JhcGhpYy5jb20vcGxpZ2h0LW9mLXRoZS1idW1ibGViZWVzLz91dG1fY2FtcGFpZ249YmlvZ3JhcGhpY19DQVNtZW1iZXJzXzIwMjUwODIyJnV0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX3NvdXJjZT1NYWlsamV0>

*Plight of the Bumblebees*
<https://link.calacademy.org/lnk/AccAABQFFJ4AAcsMw_IAALd8zxcAAYCsOysAnD_EABMt8wBoqIYQMHWYI1ZTQW2yqzxYC-lNFgATIFI/4/4i5O8oI-yg4qbImtBBOmqQ/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYmlvZ3JhcGhpYy5jb20vcGxpZ2h0LW9mLXRoZS1idW1ibGViZWVzLz91dG1fY2FtcGFpZ249YmlvZ3JhcGhpY19DQVNtZW1iZXJzXzIwMjUwODIyJnV0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX3NvdXJjZT1NYWlsamV0>

A journey into the wild and not-so-wild world of bumblebees and the
unintended consequences of domestication.

by Jude Isabella • 5,100 words / 25 mins
[image: image from story]
<https://link.calacademy.org/lnk/AccAABQFFJ4AAcsMw_IAALd8zxcAAYCsOysAnD_EABMt8wBoqIYQMHWYI1ZTQW2yqzxYC-lNFgATIFI/5/0knfyOEB_rK19n_VEg7H4Q/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYmlvZ3JhcGhpYy5jb20vYWFyZHZhcmstYnVycm93cy1jb3VsZC1iZS1ncm91bmQtemVyby1mb3ItdGhlLW5leHQtcGFuZGVtaWMvP3V0bV9jYW1wYWlnbj1iaW9ncmFwaGljX0NBU21lbWJlcnNfMjAyNTA4MjImdXRtX21lZGl1bT1lbWFpbCZ1dG1fc291cmNlPU1haWxqZXQ>

*Aardvark Burrows Could be Ground Zero for the Next Pandemic*
<https://link.calacademy.org/lnk/AccAABQFFJ4AAcsMw_IAALd8zxcAAYCsOysAnD_EABMt8wBoqIYQMHWYI1ZTQW2yqzxYC-lNFgATIFI/6/MCo1UiBKU88yInLhsjOCcw/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYmlvZ3JhcGhpYy5jb20vYWFyZHZhcmstYnVycm93cy1jb3VsZC1iZS1ncm91bmQtemVyby1mb3ItdGhlLW5leHQtcGFuZGVtaWMvP3V0bV9jYW1wYWlnbj1iaW9ncmFwaGljX0NBU21lbWJlcnNfMjAyNTA4MjImdXRtX21lZGl1bT1lbWFpbCZ1dG1fc291cmNlPU1haWxqZXQ>

Animals of all kinds mix and mingle in underground burrows, offering
troubling opportunities for diseases to jump species.

by Jude Isabella • 900 words / 4 mins
[image: image from story]
<https://link.calacademy.org/lnk/AccAABQFFJ4AAcsMw_IAALd8zxcAAYCsOysAnD_EABMt8wBoqIYQMHWYI1ZTQW2yqzxYC-lNFgATIFI/7/UHbqW7yNnYR46LPPxAGF4g/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYmlvZ3JhcGhpYy5jb20vc2VlaW5nLXRoZS1mdW5naS1mb3ItdGhlLXRyZWVzLz91dG1fY2FtcGFpZ249YmlvZ3JhcGhpY19DQVNtZW1iZXJzXzIwMjUwODIyJnV0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX3NvdXJjZT1NYWlsamV0>

*Seeing the Fungi for the Trees*
<https://link.calacademy.org/lnk/AccAABQFFJ4AAcsMw_IAALd8zxcAAYCsOysAnD_EABMt8wBoqIYQMHWYI1ZTQW2yqzxYC-lNFgATIFI/8/YoAdfE0ghSF_ojJ08AP5Ow/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYmlvZ3JhcGhpYy5jb20vc2VlaW5nLXRoZS1mdW5naS1mb3ItdGhlLXRyZWVzLz91dG1fY2FtcGFpZ249YmlvZ3JhcGhpY19DQVNtZW1iZXJzXzIwMjUwODIyJnV0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX3NvdXJjZT1NYWlsamV0>

Mycorrhizal fungi help plants thrive, and sequester a lot of carbon. But a
new atlas shows these climate warriors need urgent protection.

by Matt Simon • 1,000 words / 5 mins

*What We’re Reading*

Rewilding, attempting to restore disturbed landscapes by reintroducing
native plants and animals, has gained proponents around the world. In
Argentina, one foundation has released *40 jaguars and 40 red-footed
tortoises*
<https://link.calacademy.org/lnk/AccAABQFFJ4AAcsMw_IAALd8zxcAAYCsOysAnD_EABMt8wBoqIYQMHWYI1ZTQW2yqzxYC-lNFgATIFI/9/twYSE9bKC7AVsAUano3i1Q/aHR0cHM6Ly9uZXdsaW5lc21hZy5jb20vcmVwb3J0YWdlL3Jld2lsZGluZy1pbi1hcmdlbnRpbmEtcmFpc2VzLXRob3JueS1xdWVzdGlvbnMvP3V0bV9jYW1wYWlnbj1iaW9ncmFwaGljX0NBU21lbWJlcnNfMjAyNTA4MjImdXRtX21lZGl1bT1lbWFpbCZ1dG1fc291cmNlPU1haWxqZXQ>
into the Gran Chaco forest, in hopes of revitalizing the ecosystem, though
practical and ethical questions remain. (*New Lines Magazine*)

*Asian hornets buzz at 125 hertz*
<https://link.calacademy.org/lnk/AccAABQFFJ4AAcsMw_IAALd8zxcAAYCsOysAnD_EABMt8wBoqIYQMHWYI1ZTQW2yqzxYC-lNFgATIFI/10/0bUt4FU9TPlmBPGRRJ57Lg/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cudGhlZ3VhcmRpYW4uY29tL2Vudmlyb25tZW50LzIwMjUvYXVnLzA4L2FzaWFuLWhvcm5ldHMtdW5pcXVlLWJ1enotbWF5LWhvbGQtc2VjcmV0LXRvLWNvbnRhaW5pbmctaW52YXNpdmUtc3BlY2llcz91dG1fY2FtcGFpZ249YmlvZ3JhcGhpY19DQVNtZW1iZXJzXzIwMjUwODIyJnV0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX3NvdXJjZT1NYWlsamV0>,
a distinct frequency that might allow researchers to track and destroy
their nests in the United Kingdom, where the invasive insect is terrorizing
honeybee populations. (*The Guardian*)

Roughly six weeks out from the start of *Fat Bear Week*
<https://link.calacademy.org/lnk/AccAABQFFJ4AAcsMw_IAALd8zxcAAYCsOysAnD_EABMt8wBoqIYQMHWYI1ZTQW2yqzxYC-lNFgATIFI/11/iqZOoRtlVAZZHQbdpMdm0A/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnBzLmdvdi9rYXRtL2xlYXJuL2ZhdC1iZWFyLXdlZWstMjAyNC5odG0_dXRtX2NhbXBhaWduPWJpb2dyYXBoaWNfQ0FTbWVtYmVyc18yMDI1MDgyMiZ1dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsJnV0bV9zb3VyY2U9TWFpbGpldA>—the
virtual tournament that sees salmon-slaying brown bears from Alaska's
Katmai National Park vie for the title of chonkiest bruin—the fishing is
already looking very good at the venue, Brooks Falls. In *an Instagram post*
<https://link.calacademy.org/lnk/AccAABQFFJ4AAcsMw_IAALd8zxcAAYCsOysAnD_EABMt8wBoqIYQMHWYI1ZTQW2yqzxYC-lNFgATIFI/12/tfFncbjbdZjNTjyHPLhiMQ/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5zdGFncmFtLmNvbS9yZWVsL0ROUTNqMFd4V1NZLz91dG1fY2FtcGFpZ249YmlvZ3JhcGhpY19DQVNtZW1iZXJzXzIwMjUwODIyJnV0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX3NvdXJjZT1NYWlsamV0>
that depicts the river thick with sockeye salmon, the National Parks
Service predicts that this may be the bears' fattest year yet. (National
Parks Service)

Speaking of fish and superlatives, let's take a moment to celebrate Mary
Catherine, posthumously awarded the title of *oldest-known lake trout from
the Great Lakes*
<https://link.calacademy.org/lnk/AccAABQFFJ4AAcsMw_IAALd8zxcAAYCsOysAnD_EABMt8wBoqIYQMHWYI1ZTQW2yqzxYC-lNFgATIFI/13/9tLzsOa67Kyua9rp0DZR8A/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cucG9wc2NpLmNvbS9lbnZpcm9ubWVudC9vbGRlc3Qta25vd24tdHJvdXQtZ3JlYXQtbGFrZXMvP3V0bV9jYW1wYWlnbj1iaW9ncmFwaGljX0NBU21lbWJlcnNfMjAyNTA4MjImdXRtX21lZGl1bT1lbWFpbCZ1dG1fc291cmNlPU1haWxqZXQ>.
In 2023, the fish was caught in Lake Superior by a team from the Michigan
Department of Natural Resources, who determined her age from bones in her
ears. (*Popular Science*)

Researchers in Sydney, Australia, are turning up the heat on chytrid
fungus, a deadly infection that threatens frogs worldwide. The
treatment? *Placing
frogs in a small sauna*
<https://link.calacademy.org/lnk/AccAABQFFJ4AAcsMw_IAALd8zxcAAYCsOysAnD_EABMt8wBoqIYQMHWYI1ZTQW2yqzxYC-lNFgATIFI/14/lRFCOqg6TbVmFsLc5U8NVA/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubmF0dXJlLmNvbS9hcnRpY2xlcy9kNDE1ODYtMDI1LTAyNjIwLTk_dXRtX2NhbXBhaWduPWJpb2dyYXBoaWNfQ0FTbWVtYmVyc18yMDI1MDgyMiZ1dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsJnV0bV9zb3VyY2U9TWFpbGpldA>,
built from warmed masonry bricks, for a few hours over several days. Yes,
it's as cute as you think. (*Nature*)

[image: RHYME TIME]
<https://link.calacademy.org/lnk/AccAABQFFJ4AAcsMw_IAALd8zxcAAYCsOysAnD_EABMt8wBoqIYQMHWYI1ZTQW2yqzxYC-lNFgATIFI/15/m0H5U4GVoZc2VIMiz_bB2Q/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYmlvZ3JhcGhpYy5jb20vdGhlLWZsZWV0LXdpbmdlZC1naG9zdHMtb2YtZ3JlZW5sYW5kLz91dG1fY2FtcGFpZ249YmlvZ3JhcGhpY19DQVNtZW1iZXJzXzIwMjUwODIyJnV0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX3NvdXJjZT1NYWlsamV0>

Rhyme Time is a weekly puzzle exclusively for our newsletter readers. Each
week, we provide a cryptic clue and you guess the answer, which will be two
rhyming words with the same number of syllables. For example, the clue “The
hour of the day for writing couplets” has the answer “rhyme time.”

Last week’s clue was “The child of a tentacled mollusk,” and the answer is
“squid kid.” Congrats to Brent M.G., Ed G., Shaun P., Mary B. Kathryn F.,
Christina C., Aja Y., Jordan K., Ashley M., and Glen H. for being the first
to guess correctly.

This week’s clue is “*A funny story about acorn-bearing trees.*” Send your
guess, just for fun, by replying to this email. The answer will be revealed
in our next newsletter.

[image: Our Shared Planet title over a short video of a very small, puffy
vole eating a small plant]

On an after-dinner walk in the woods one evening, my partner and I were
surprised to be joined by a tiny, furry companion. As we proceeded down the
trail, a little vole began to walk along beside us. It showed no concern
about our presence and when it stopped to munch on some greenery, we would
stop and watch it. It was so unafraid of us that I was able to get my phone
close enough to capture some video of it snacking away. The little fuzzball
strolled with us for a good five or ten minutes before going on its own way
into the underbrush.

—Mark Garrison

*See **where the photo was taken*
<https://link.calacademy.org/lnk/AccAABQFFJ4AAcsMw_IAALd8zxcAAYCsOysAnD_EABMt8wBoqIYQMHWYI1ZTQW2yqzxYC-lNFgATIFI/16/tLOarGMxnwN69SbR1WyiJg/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cub3BlbnN0cmVldG1hcC5vcmcvP21sYXQ9NDguNDk2OCZtbG9uPS0xMjMuNDAzNCZ1dG1fY2FtcGFpZ249YmlvZ3JhcGhpY19DQVNtZW1iZXJzXzIwMjUwODIyJnV0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX3NvdXJjZT1NYWlsamV0I21hcD0xMi80OC40OTY4Ly0xMjMuNDAzNA#map=12/48.4968/-123.4034>*
on OpenStreetMaps.*

*Submit your landscape, seascape, or nature photo for inclusion in the
newsletter by replying to this email.*

[image: Sharing our stories helps us reach new readers. Please forward this
email to someone who loves biodiversity.]
<https://link.calacademy.org/lnk/AccAABQFFJ4AAcsMw_IAALd8zxcAAYCsOysAnD_EABMt8wBoqIYQMHWYI1ZTQW2yqzxYC-lNFgATIFI/17/zQxazqhj8hIkCK22tU2ukQ/aHR0cHM6Ly9naXZlLmNhbGFjYWRlbXkub3JnL2NhbXBhaWduLzY4OTcyMC9kb25hdGU_Y19zcmM9ZW0tdjEtZXYyNSZjX3NyYzI9ZW1haWwmdXRtX2NhbXBhaWduPWJpb2dyYXBoaWNfQ0FTbWVtYmVyc18yMDI1MDgyMiZ1dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsJnV0bV9zb3VyY2U9TWFpbGpldA>

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*bioGraphic* is part of the California Academy of Sciences, a 501(c)(3)
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<https://link.calacademy.org/lnk/AccAABQFFJ4AAcsMw_IAALd8zxcAAYCsOysAnD_EABMt8wBoqIYQMHWYI1ZTQW2yqzxYC-lNFgATIFI/0/cjKwyYH8023IYinQ5iN6rA/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYmlvZ3JhcGhpYy5jb20vcGxpZ2h0LW9mLXRoZS1idW1ibGViZWVzLz91dG1fY2FtcGFpZ249YmlvZ3JhcGhpY19DQVNtZW1iZXJzXzIwMjUwODIyJnV0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX3NvdXJjZT1NYWlsamV0?b=1>
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-- 

Kelly Bills *(she/her)*

Executive Director

Pollinator Partnership

*kelly at pollinator.org <kelly at pollinator.org>* | 585.255.0962

San Francisco, California

hq: 582 Market Street, Suite 1215, San Francisco, CA 94104

pollinator.org | 415.362.1137

*I respectfully acknowledge that I live and work on the unceded ancestral
homeland of the Ramaytush Ohlone peoples who are the original inhabitants
of the San Francisco Peninsula.*
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