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The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) is considering allowing a non-native bumblebee species (Bombus impatiens) to be introduced into 23 counties in California to pollinate agricultural crops.  These exotic bumblebees, which are common east of the Rocky Mountains, can wreak havoc on our native bumblebees.  Native California bumblebees have decreased in numbers due to pesticide use and the destruction of foraging and nesting habitat.  The introduction of exotic bumblebees could worsen the plight of our native bumblebees by potentially introducing new pathogens into native bumblebee populations.  If the exotic bumblebee queens accidentally escape, they could establish populations in California and directly compete with our native bumblebees for dwindling food and space.

California agriculture and other industrialized agricultural systems  face a pollinator crisis that limits agricultural production for bee-pollinated crops.  California has a number of native bumblebee species that provide pollination services.  CDFA needs to support increasing and creating habitat for foraging and nesting for our native bumblebees within agricultural areas - California's version of a hedgerow - as a solution to the agricultural pollination crisis.  They also need to continue strong support for integrated pest management solutions that minimize or eliminate the need for pesticides, especially ones that target pollinators.  The CDFA should not import exotic species of bumblebee that has potential to cause further declines in our native bumblebee populations.

Creation of additional habitat for native bumblebees has the added benefit of providing habitat for other beneficial insects.

Please write CDFA today and ask them to deny the introduction of exotic bumblebees into California and to instead support native bumblebees as a solution to the pollinator crisis by actively maintaining and creating natural open space adjacent to agriculture.