Del Pilar Academy

Gen. E. Topacio St.

Imus City, Cavite

Mutation &
Evolution
Bumblebees

General Biology 2

Presented by: Group 5 of STEM 11-A

Aberilla, JC Yuri, D.
Alvarico, Thaisean Dioe, D.
Bautista, Mark Adrian, L.
Bautista, Migs Iñaki, E. (Leader)
Calisay, Celesty Jinobli, R.
Celiz, Keesh Rameses, R.
Cucal, John Carlos, S.
Cullados, John Dexter, V.

Presented to:
Ms. Isabel Paula C. Ibarreta

May 29, 2023

 Del Pilar Academy
Gen. E. Topacio St.
Imus City, Cavite

GENETICS
MONOHYBRID MENDELIAN CROSS

• Parents of the Original Bee (Trait 1: Eye Color)

A.)
Dominant Trait: Black Eyes (B)
Recessive Trait: Brown Eyes (b)

B.)
Cross: BB x bb

C.) Punnett Square

B B

b Bb Bb

b Bb Bb

D.) Genotype
100% Bb

E.) Phenotype
100% Black Eyed Bumblebee

• Parents of the Original Bee (Trait 2: Wing Shape)

A.)
Dominant Trait: Broad Wings (B)
Recessive Trait: Elongated Wings (b)

B.)
Cross: Bb x bb

C.) Punnett Square

B b

b Bb bb

b Bb bb

D.) Genotype:
50% Bb
50% bb

E.) Phenotype:
50% Broad Winged Bumblebee
50% Elongated Winged Bumblebee
 Del Pilar Academy
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Imus City, Cavite

DIHYBRID MENDELIAN CROSS

• Parents of the Original Bee (Traits 1&2: Mandibles Size and Tongue Length)

A.)
Dominant Traits: Large Mandibles (L)
Long Tongue (G)

Recessive Traits: Medium-sized Mandibles (l)

Short Tongue (g)

B.)
Cross: LLGg x llgg

LG lg
Lg lg
LG lg
Lg lg

C.) Punnett Square

LG Lg LG Lg

lg LlGg Llgg LlGg Llgg

lg LlGg Llgg LlGg Llgg

lg LlGg Llgg LlGg Llgg

lg LlGg Llgg LlGg Llgg

D.) Genotype:
8 LlGg
8 Llgg

E.) Phenotype:
8 Large Mandible, Long Tongued Bee
8 Large Mandible, Short Tongued Bee

• Parents of the Original Bee (Trait 2: Size and Shape of Thorax)

A.)
Dominant Traits: Round Thorax (R)
Short Thorax (H)

Recessive Traits: Oval Thorax ( r )

Medium-sized Thorax (h)

B.)
Cross: RRHH x rrhh

RH rh
RH rh
RH rh
RH rh
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C.) Punnett Square

RH RH RH RH

rh RrHh RrHh RrHh RrHh

rh RrHh RrHh RrHh RrHh

rh RrHh RrHh RrHh RrHh

rh RrHh RrHh RrHh RrHh

D.) Genotype:
16 RrHh

E.) Phenotype
16 Bee with Rounded-Short Thorax

DIHYBRID NON-MENDELIAN CROSS

• Parents of the Original Bee (Trait 1&2: Wingspan and Flight Altitude
[Incomplete Dominance])

A.)
Trait 1: Large Wingspan (A), Small Wingspan (M)

Trait 2: High Altitude Flight (H), Low Altitude Flight (L)

B.)
Cross: AAHH x MMLL

AH ML
AH ML
AH ML
AH ML

C.) Punnett Square

AH AH AH AH

ML AMHL AMHL AMHL AMHL

ML AMHL AMHL AMHL AMHL

ML AMHL AMHL AMHL AMHL

ML AMHL AMHL AMHL AMHL

D.) Genotype:
16 AHML

E.) Phenotype:
16 Bee with Average-sized Wingspan with Mid-Altitude Flight
 Del Pilar Academy
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• Parents of the Original Bee (Traits 1&2: Fur Color and Fur Pattern
[Codominance])

A.)
Trait 1: Black Fur (B), Yellow Fur (Y)

Trait 2: Curved Fur (C), Straight Fur (S)

B.) Cross:
BBSS x YYCC

BS YC
BS YC
BS YC
BS YC

C.) Punnett Square

BS BS BS BS

YC BYCS BYCS BYCS BYCS

YC BYCS BYCS BYCS BYCS

YC BYCS BYCS BYCS BYCS

YC BYCS BYCS BYCS BYCS

D.) Genotype:
16 BYCS

E.) Phenotype:
16 Bumblebee with Black & Yellow Fur with Curved-Straight Pattern

Multiple Alleles
• Parents of the Original Bee (Trait 1: Tail Color)
* Red Tail (BRBR / BRb)
* White Tail (BWBW / BWb)
* Ginger Tail (BRBW)
* Black Tail (bb)

A.)
Parent 1: Red Tail (BRb)

Parent 2: White Tail (BWBW)

B.)
Cross: BRb x BWBW
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C.) Punnett Square

BR b

BW BRBW BWb

BW BRBW BWb

D. Genotype: 50% BRBW, 50% BWb

E. Phenotype: 50% Ginger Tail, 50% White Tail

• Parents of the Original Bee (Trait 2: Band Number)

* Three Bands (OHOH / OHo)
* One Band (OWOW / OWo)
* Two Band (OHOW)
* No Band (oo)

A.)
Parent 1: Three Bands (OHo)

Parent 2: Two Bands (OHOW)

B.)
Cross: OHo x OHOW

C.) Punnett Square

OH o

OH OHOH OHo

OW OHOW OWo

D.) Genotype: 25% OHOH, 25% OHo, 25% OHOW, 25% OWo
E.) Phenotype: 50% Three Bands, 25% Two Bands, 25% One Band

End of Cross for Generation 1 (Parents of Original Bee)

 Del Pilar Academy
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Imus City, Cavite

MONOHYBRID MENDELIAN CROSS

• The Original Bee and its Mate (Trait 1: Eye Size)

A.)
Dominant Trait: Large Eyes (L)
Recessive Trait: Average-sized Eyes (l)

B.)
Cross: Ll x ll

C.) Punnett Square

L l

l Ll ll

l Ll ll

D.) Genotype:
50% Ll, 50% ll

E.) Phenotype:
50% Large Eyes, 50% Average-sized Eyes

• The Original Bee and its Mate (Trait 2: Wing Vein Pattern)

A.)
Dominant Trait: Firm Vein Patterned Wing (F)
Recessive Trait: Scattered Vein Patterned Wing (f)

B.)
Cross: ff x Ff

C. Punnett Square

f f

F Ff Ff

f ff ff

D.) Genotype: 50% Ff, 50% ff

E.) Phenotype: 50% Firm Vein Pattern Winged Bee, 50% Scattered Vein Pattern
Winged Bee
 Del Pilar Academy
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DIHYBRID MENDELIAN CROSS

• The Original Bee and its Mate (Traits 1&2: Abdomen and Head Shape)

A.)
Dominant Traits: Heart-shaped Head (H)
Pointed Abdomen (I)

Recessive Traits: Round Head (h)

Oval Abdomen (i)

B.) Cross: HhIi x hhii

HI hi
Hi hi
hI hi
hi hi

C.) Punnett Square

HI Hi hI hi

hi HhIi Hhii hhIi hhii

hi HhIi Hhii hhIi hhii

hi HhIi Hhii hhIi hhii

hi HhIi Hhii hhIi hhii

D.) Genotype:
4 HhIi
4 Hhii
4 hhIi
4 hhii

E.) Phenotype:
4 Bumblebee with Heart-Shaped Head and Pointed Abdomen
4 Bumblebee with Heart-Shaped Head and Oval Abdomen
4 Bumblebee with Round Head and Pointed Abdomen
4 Bumblebee with Round Head and Oval Abdomen

• The Original Bee and its Mate (Traits 1&2: Antennae Length and
Fur Thickness)

A.)
Dominant Traits: Long Antennae (L)
Thick Fur (T)

Recessive Traits: Short Antennae (l)

Thin Fur (t)

B. Cross: LLtt x llTt

Lt lT
Lt lt
Lt lT
Lt lt
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C. Punnett Square

Lt Lt Lt Lt

lT LlTt LlTt LlTt LlTt

lt Lltt Lltt Lltt Lltt

lT LlTt LlTt LlTt LlTt

lt Lltt Lltt Lltt Lltt

D.) Genotype: 8 LlTt, 8 Lltt

E.) Phenotype: 8 Bumblebee with Long Antennae and Thick Fur

8 Bumblebee with Long Antennae and Thin Fur

DIHYBRID NON-MENDELIAN CROSS

• The Original Bee and its Mate (Traits 1&2: Leg Length and Abdomen Size
[Incomplete Dominance])

A.)
Trait 1: Long Legs (L), Short Legs (H)

Trait 2: Big Abdomen (B), Small Abdomen (A)

B.) Cross: LLBB x HHAA

LB HA
LB HA
LB HA
LB HA

C.) Punnett Square

LB LB LB LB

HA HLAB HLAB HLAB HLAB

HA HLAB HLAB HLAB HLAB

HA HLAB HLAB HLAB HLAB

HA HLAB HLAB HLAB HLAB

D.) Genotype: 16 HLAB

E.) Phenotype: 16 Bumblebee with Medium-Sized Legs and Abdomen

• The Original Bee and its Mate (Traits 1&2: Leg Hair Length and Density
[Incomplete Dominance])

A.)
Trait 1: Long Leg Hair (L), Short Leg Hair (R)
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Trait 2: Thick Leg Hair (T), Thin Leg Hair (H)

B.) Cross: LLTT x RRHH

LT RH
LT RH
LT RH
LT RH

C.) Punnett Square

LT LT LT LT

RH LRHT LRHT LRHT LRHT

RH LRHT LRHT LRHT LRHT

RH LRHT LRHT LRHT LRHT

RH LRHT LRHT LRHT LRHT

D.) Genotype: 16 LTHR

E.) Phenotype: 16 Bumblebee with Medium-Length Leg Hair and Medium Hair
Thickness

Multiple Alleles
• The Original Bee and its Mate (Trait 1: Behavior)
* Passive (FPFP / FPf)
* Aggressive (FAFA / FAf)
* Semi-Aggressive (FPFA)
* Friendly (ff)

A.)
Parent 1: Passive (FPf)
Parent 2: Friendly (ff)

B.)
Cross: FPf x ff

C.) Punnett Square

FP f

f FPf ff

f FPf ff

D.) Genotype:
50% FPf, 50% ff

E.) Phenotype:
50% Passive, 50% Friendly
 Del Pilar Academy
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• The Original Bee and its Mate (Trait 2: Wax Production Ability)
* Great wax production ability (NGNG / NGn)
* Few wax production ability (NFNF / NFn)
* Moderate wax production ability (NGNF)
* Do not produce wax (nn)

A.)
Parent 1: Great wax production ability (NGn)

Parent 2: Moderate wax production ability (NGNF)

B.)
Cross: NGn x NGNF

C.) Punnett Square

NG n

NG NGNG NGn

NF NGNF NFn

D.) Genotype: 25% NGNG, 25% NGn, 25% NGNF, 25% NFn
E.) Phenotype: 50% Great wax production ability, 25% Moderate wax production
ability, 25% Few wax production ability

End of Cross for Generation 2 (Original Bee and its Mate)


Parent 1
1. Eye color: Black
2. Wing shape: Broad
3. Mandible size: Large
4. Tongue length: Long
5. Thorax size: Short
6. Thorax shape: Round
7. Wingspan: Large
8. Flight Altitude: High
9. Fur color: Black
10. Fur pattern: Straight
11. Tail color: Red
12. Band (stripes) number:
Three
Mate
13. Eye size: Average-sized
14. Wing vein pattern: Firm
15. Abdomen shape: Oval
16. Head shape: Round
17. Antennae length: Short
18. Fur thickness: Thick
19. Leg length: Short
20. Abdomen size: Small
21. Leg hair length: Short
22. Leg hair density: Thin
23. Behavior: Friendly
24. Wax production ability:
Moderate
Del Pilar Academy
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Traits of the BEE Family
Parent 2
1. Eye color: Brown
2. Wing shape: Narrow
3. Mandible size: Medium-sized
4. Tongue length: Short
5. Thorax size: Medium-sized
6. Thorax shape: Oval
7. Wingspan: Small
8. Flight Altitude: Low
9. Fur color: Yellow
10. Fur pattern: Curved
11. Tail color: White
12. Band (stripes) number: Two
Offspring
13. Eye size: Large
14. Wing vein pattern: Firm
15. Abdomen shape: Oval
16. Head shape: Round
17. Antennae length: Long
18. Fur thickness: Thick
19. Leg length: Medium sized
20. Abdomen size: Medium
sized
21. Leg hair length: Medium
22. Leg hair density: Medium
23. Behavior: Passive
24. Wax production ability:
Few
Original Bee
1. Eye color: Black
2. Wing shape: Broad*
3. Mandible size: Large
4. Tongue length: Short
5. Thorax size: Short
6. Thorax shape: Round
7. Wingspan: Average Size*
8. Flight Altitude: Mid
9. Fur color: Black & Yellow
10. Fur pattern: Curved &
Straight
11. Tail color: White
12. Band (stripes) number:
Three
13. Eye size: Large
14. Wing vein pattern:
Scattered*
15. Abdomen shape: Pointed
16. Head shape: Heart-
Shaped
17. Antennae length: Long
18. Fur thickness: Thin*
19. Leg length: Long
20. Abdomen size: Big
21. Leg hair length: Long
22. Leg hair density: Thick
23. Behavior: Passive
24. Wax production ability:
Great
 Del Pilar Academy
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MUTATION
1. TRAIT: Wing vein pattern
Original: Scattered Vein Wings
Mutated: Firm Vein Wings

Original DNA: TCT GTG TAT GAC TTC TAC AAG TGC ACC CAC

Original RNA: AGA CAC AUA CUG AAG AUG UUC ACG UGG GUG

Original Protein: Arginine - Histidine - Isoleucine - Leucine - Lysine - Methionine -

Phenylalanine - Threonine - Tryptophan - Valine

Type of Protein: Basic, Basic, Nonpolar, Nonpolar, Basic, Nonpolar, Nonpolar, Polar,
Nonpolar, Nonpolar

Mutated DNA: TCT GTG TAT GAC TTT TAC AAG TGC ACC CAC

Mutated RNA: AGA CAC AUA CUG AAA AUG UUC ACG UGG GUG

Mutated Protein: Arginine - Histidine - Isoleucine - Leucine - Lysine - Methionine -

Phenylalanine - Threonine - Tryptophan - Valine

Type of Protein: Basic, Basic, Nonpolar, Nonpolar, Basic, Nonpolar, Nonpolar, Polar,
Nonpolar, Nonpolar

Mutation: Point, Silent Missense Mutation

Due to bumblebee getting caught on spider webs, they mutated to have a more
firm and veiny wings to make it stronger. With a veiny wing, even if they are caught on
the sticky webs of the spiders, they can get away without getting their wings ripped from
being stuck on the webs. The veins in the wings provide structural integrity and support.
They act like a framework, preventing the wings from collapsing or fluttering excessively
under the forces exerted during flight.

2. TRAIT: Wing shape

Original: Broad Wings
Mutated: Elongated Wings

Original DNA: TAC GCT AAA GTA TGT TAG ACC GAT CAT TTT

Original RNA: AUG CGA UUU CAU ACA AUC UGG CUA GUA AAA

Original Protein: Methionine - Arginine - Phenylalanine - Histidine - Threonine -

Isoleucine - Tryptophan - Leucine - Valine - Lysine

Type of Protein: Nonpolar, Basic, Nonpolar, Basic, Polar, Nonpolar, Nonpolar,

Nonpolar, Nonpolar, Basic
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Mutated DNA: TAC GCT AAA GAA TGT TAG ACC GAT CAT TTT

Mutated RNA: AUG CGA UUU CUU ACA AUC UGG CUA GUA AAA

Mutated Protein: Methionine - Arginine - Phenylalanine - Leucine - Threonine -

Isoleucine -Tryptophan - Leucine - Valine - Lysine

Type of Protein: Nonpolar, Basic, Nonpolar, Nonpolar, Polar, Nonpolar, Nonpolar,

Nonpolar, Nonpolar, Basic

Mutation: Point, Non-conservative Missense Mutation

Bees with stiffened wings would be less stable during flight, displaying greater
body rotation rates. Wing flexibility enhances vertical aerodynamic force. Production
and thus load-lifting capacity to help tease apart the potential mechanisms by which
wing flexibility may affect stability. This can improve their flight efficiency, pollination
specialization, competitive advantage, and evolutionary experimentation. Elongated
wings can reduce drag and increase lift, allowing bees to fly farther while using less
energy.

3. TRAIT: Wingspan
Original: Average Size Wingspan
Mutated: Large Wingspan

Original DNA: CAG ACC TGG AAG TAC UUC GAG TAA GUG GCG

Original RNA: GUC UGG ACC UUC AUG AAG CUC AUU CAC CGC

Original Protein: Valine - Tryptophan - Threonine - Phenylalanine - Methionine - Lysine

- Leucine - Isoleucine - Glutamine - Arginine

Type of Protein: Non-Polar, Non-Polar, Polar, Non-Polar, Non-Polar, Basic, Non-Polar,

Non-Polar, Polar, Basic

Mutated DNA: CAG ACC TGG AAG TAC UUC GAG TAA GUG GCG GC

Mutated RNA: GUC UGG ACC UUC AUG AAG CUC AUU CAC CGC CG

Mutated Protein: Valine - Tryptophan - Threonine - Phenylalanine - Methionine -

Lysine - Leucine - Isoleucine - Glutamine - Arginine

Type of Protein: Non-Polar, Non-Polar, Polar, Non-Polar, Non-Polar, Basic, Non-Polar,

Non-Polar, Polar, Basic
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Mutation: Frame-Shift, Insertion Mutation

Larger wing size can help them travel much faster and higher in a wider distance,
resulting in them to collect more pollen and nectar for their food. Larger wing size can
also provide an upgraded version of protection of bumblebees from the heat of the sun.
Also, it can help them find their mate in a faster way, helping them to reproduce and
survive in their environment.

4. TRAIT: Fur thickness

Original: Thin Fur
Mutated: Thick Fur

Original DNA: AAA GTA CAA GAA ACC GCA TAC TTT TAT TGA

Original RNA: UUU CAU GUU CUU UGG CGU AUG AAA AUA ACU

Original Protein: Phenylalanine- Histidine - Valine - Leucine - Tryptophan - Arginine -

Methionine - Lysine - Isoleucine - Threonine

Type of Protein: Non-Polar, Basic, Non-Polar, Non- Polar, Non-Polar, Basic, non-Polar,
Basic, Non-Polar, Polar

Mutated DNA: AAA GTA CAA GAA ACC GCA TAC TTT TTT GA

Mutated RNA: UUU CAU GUU CUU UGG CGU AUG AAA AAA CU

Mutated Protein: Phenylalanine- Histidine - Valine - Leucine - Tryptophan - Arginine -

Methionine - Lysine - Lysine

Type of Protein: Non-Polar, Basic, Non-Polar, Non- Polar, Non-Polar, Basic, non-Polar,
Basic, Basic

Mutation: Single Frame-Shift, Deletion Mutation

The thickness of bumblebees' fur is a remarkable adaptation that enables them

to survive in harsh conditions. This dense covering serves as insulation, effectively
keeping the bumblebees warm during cold weather. Additionally, the branching
structure of the fur offers an added advantage by facilitating improved pollen gathering.
This unique feature allows bumblebees to forage and pollinate flowers even on days
when the temperature is too cold for honeybees. As a result, bumblebees play a vital
role as pollinators, particularly in colder climates, making them crucial for the pollination
of fruit-bearing plants.
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GENERALIZATION
BUMBLEBEE

Bees are flying insects of the order Hymenoptera, family Apoidea. They are well-
known for their essential pollination role and capacity to generate honey. With over 20,000
recognized species, bees are diverse and can be found in a variety of environments
around the world. A bumblebee is a flying insect that belongs to the genus Bombus in
the family Apidae. They are part of the Hymenoptera order, which also includes bees,
wasps, and ants. Bumblebees are distinguished by their robust and fuzzy appearance,
with a compact body coated in dense hair that helps in pollen collecting and distribution
they are huge flying insects that are yellow and black and have a characteristic buzz.

The bumblebee is a social insect that is well-known for its ability to collect nectar
from flowers and pollinate plants (NatureMapping, n.d.). They are an essential part of our
natural ecosystems and play a vital role in pollination, they pollinate various plant species,
including wildflowers, fruit trees, and crops such as tomatoes and blueberries. The
average mass of pollen and nectar transported by bumblebees returning to the nest is
about 25% of their body weight. However, some bumblebees fly back bearing 75% or
more of their body weight. Bumblebees store small amounts of nectar and pollen in their
nests to sustain the colony during unfavorable weather conditions.

They are also known for their adaptability, thriving in a wide range of environments,
including meadows, forests, gardens, and even alpine regions. They are known for their
ability to fly in cooler temperatures and in conditions less favorable for other pollinators.

HOW CAN THE BUMBLEBEES THRIVE IN THE ENVIRONMENT?

Being relocated to a new environment, bumblebees will need to mutate to survive

and thrive in that place. Their new environment is a temperate meadow forest, it will
consist of big flower fields, forest, and ponds surrounding it. The flower fields and ponds
will give the bees sufficient nutrients for the bumblebees to reproduce and build their
colonies. Compared with open habitats, forests and woody edges provide food resources
during phonologically distinct periods (Mola, et al., 2021), the forest is a suitable place for
them to nest in, under a tree branch, inside a hollow tree, besides a rock or near the tree
roots, it will provide them favorable conditions to live in.

Although the meadow forest is full of predators like spiders and wasps, with the
mutation that the bumblebees will undergo, they will be able to adapt and thrive. To be
 Del Pilar Academy
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specific, their wing veins, size, size, fur color/pattern, and thickness. Even the smartest
spiders or strongest wasps will have a hard time catching the bumblebees.

First and foremost a bumblebee’s diet is made up of pollen and nectar from flowers
(Bumblebee Conservation Trust, 2022). As we all familiar with, bumblebees feed on
pollens and nectar to survive, reproduce, and distribute it plant-to-plant for the plant
reproduction. The meadow forest offers a variety of bee-friendly flower for the
bumblebees to feed into.

Bumblebees typically nest on pre-existing cavities, like bird nests, under a rock,
beside of tree roots, and dense vegetation, they utilize these pre-existing cavities to
preserve energy and resources, its availability, and stable temperature. The bumblebees
also do the process of colony reproduction and nest-site switching (About Bumble Bees,
n.d.). As the lifespan of bumblebees is short, their “colony cycle” only lasts per month,
new bee queens are bound to emerge and because of that they establish new colonies,
this process is called colony reproduction. Other environmental factors or due to
circumstances like predation or poor conditions, they abandon their nest and making a
new one, this is called nest switching. Both of which are offered in the meadow forest.

Forests are big places with a diverse ecosystem, may it be big or small, they are
bound to have predators, same goes for bumblebees. Their main predators are spiders
and insect-eating insects, specifically the orb-weaving spiders and yellow jackets but the
changes in the wings and fur of the bumblebees will help them. Their firm wing veins will
strengthen the structure of the wings making it less likely to rip apart when they are caught
on spider webs. Their wing shape being elongated will help them with flight stability and
maneuverability which is much needed when fighting off or running away from yellow
jackets. Their larger wing size will increase their flight efficiency, traveling a wider distance
and help them carry larger loads of pollens and nectar which will help them thrive. Their
fur color camouflages them from their predators while foraging food. Their fur thickness
will help them regulate their temperature in the hot summers and long winters

HOW CAN THE MUTATED BUMBLEBEES BE EXTINCT OR ENDANGERED?

Environmental factors like climate change is the biggest threat in the bumblebee’s
population, it can destroy their habitat and disrupt their cycle patterns (Climate Change Is
Ratcheting up the Pressure on Bees, 2023). Climate change can cause sudden change
in the weathers like that some plants or environment cannot quickly adapt, leading to loss
of vegetation including flowers, their main source of food. An example of this is drought,
drought is a dry period with insufficient water, without sufficient water streaming, the
vegetation is bound to wilt, it can also reduce available healthy flowers for the bumblebees
 Del Pilar Academy
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to pollenate which can affect their population. Another is destruction of their habitat,
extreme flooding can destroy the bumblebees’ nests as they typically nest on the ground,
and even destroy the flower fields they get their foods from.

And of course, the humans. Urbanization contributes to habitat loss, and is

declining the female population which means fewer mates for male bees (Impact of
Urbanization on Wild Bees Underestimated, 2019). Human urbanization like agriculture
and infrastructure development can lead to destruction of the environment to make space,
this includes the habitat and floral field, both of which are important for the bumblebee’s
survival. Another is the pesticide use of humans, the use of pesticide on agriculture can
harm or kill the bumblebees. Imidacloprid (used by Bayer) and thiamethoxam (used by
Actara) two of the world’s top three insecticides harm bumblebees (Carrington, 2021).
Pesticide can ill bumblebees depending on its ingredients, a mild exposure to Imidacloprid
and thiamethoxam is already enough to kill a bumblebee, if a human suddenly sprayed
these in a flower field, it could kill a whole colony in no time. If in some instances, the
pesticide does not kill the bumblebee, it can pollute their food, it will then be distributed to
the whole colony, making the colony weaker and weaker, susceptible to destruction and
predators.

References:

Wild Bee Conservation. (n.d.). Xerces Society. https://www.xerces.org/endangered-

species/wild-
bees#:~:text=Worldwide%2C%20there%20are%20an%20estimated,North%20A
merica%20north%20of%20Mexico
Bumblebee Facts for Kids - NatureMapping. (n.d.).
http://naturemappingfoundation.org/natmap/facts/bumblebee_k6.html#:~:text=De
scription%3A%20The%20Bumblebee%20is%20a,of%20red%2C%20yellow%20a
nd%20black
Should I feed bumblebees sugar-water? - Bumblebee Conservation Trust. (2022b, May
13). https://www.bumblebeeconservation.org/bee-faqs/should-i-feed-
bumblebees-sugar-
water/#:~:text=First%20and%20foremost%20a%20bumblebee's,(between%20M
arch%20and%20October).
Climate Change Is Ratcheting Up the Pressure on Bees. (2023b, April 18). UC Davis.
https://www.ucdavis.edu/climate/blog/bees-face-many-challenges-and-climate-
change-ratcheting-
pressure#:~:text=Climate%20change%20is%20a%20force%20multiplier&text=Ex
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treme%20rainfall%20can%20disrupt%20bees,water%20becomes%20less%20re
adily%20available.
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