Conservation groups said four species of native bumblebees are close to extinction

[babsbunny]

Groups ask U.S. to regulate shipping of commercial bumblebees

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/01/12/AR2010011203259.html

By Adrian Higgins
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Conservation groups said four species of native bumblebees are close to extinction and called on the federal government Tuesday to begin regulating the shipping of bees raised commercially as crop pollinators.

Researchers believe the precipitous declines in the species are being caused by diseases linked to the cultivation of a species of native bumblebee sold to farmers. The bees are used to increase fruit yield in a number of crops, including hothouse tomatoes and field-grown raspberries and blueberries.

[Mojorabbit]

1. If only one facility

is shipping them then inspection is the best method to use. As a (honey)bee keeper, if you ship out diseased bees EVERYONE who keeps bees will know about it within a week and your reputation will be ruined. Major grapevine.
It seems planting pesticide free bee friendly plants would help a lot too.

[Quantess]

2. K & R