Recent news and analysis on Biodiversity

Biodiversity news covering species loss, habitat restoration, protected areas, invasive species, and ecosystem collapse risks.

• 90% of wild honey bee colonies collapsed in Queensland

  One year after varroa mite entered Queensland, an estimated 90% of wild honey bee colonies in south-east Queensland have collapsed and almost all managed colonies are struggling to survive. A new mite resistant to synthetic miticide has emerged, forcing beekeepers to use oxalic acid treatments that suppress but do not eliminate the mites. Commercial apiarist Rick McFarlane reported devastation and said his costs have increased by $1,500 to $3,000 per month to treat his 150 hives.

• Expedition discovers dozens of new species in Angola

  An expedition to Angola's remote Lisima plateau found dozens of new species, including eight dragonflies, three grasshoppers, and about 60 butterflies and moths. Notable finds include an armored predatory cricket and a UV-fluorescent crab spider.

• UK imported 1,800 endangered animal trophies since Cecil the lion killing

  Trophy hunters have imported bodies or parts of 1,800 endangered animals into the UK since 2015, despite pledges to ban imports. Permits were issued for critically endangered black rhinos and cheetahs. The most recent permits came after Labour promised a ban in its manifesto, but the ban was omitted from the King's speech.

• "Orlando Sentinel 150: Monday Memory of last Dusky Seaside Sparrow died"

  This commentary recounts the death of the last dusky seaside sparrow in 1987, arguing that human activities such as mosquito control, development, and habitat destruction drove the species to extinction. It highlights the failed conservation efforts and the irony of the bird's final days in a Disney World cage, suggesting that intervention came too late.

• 5.5M mining bees found nesting in NY cemetery

  Researchers discovered an estimated 5.5 million regular mining bees beneath East Lawn Cemetery in Ithaca, New York, one of the largest known ground-nesting bee aggregations. The bees occupy about 1.5 acres and may have been there since the early 1900s, highlighting the conservation value of undisturbed habitats.

• "Big gains for little terns: how Lindisfarne reserve is helping a rare bird survive tourism"

  This commentary argues that little terns and other seabirds at Lindisfarne reserve face threats from human disturbance and climate change, but conservation efforts like fencing are helping. It contends that despite increased pressure from tourism, proactive management can mitigate harm and support breeding success.

• US designates 1.5M acres as critical habitat for rusty patched bumble bee

  The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service designated 1.5 million acres across six states as critical habitat for the endangered rusty patched bumble bee. The designation, prompted by a lawsuit from environmental groups, does not create new reserves but may affect federal projects. The bee was first listed as endangered in 2017.