Stem-Nesting Bees Face Climate Risk

New research from Australian evolutionary ecologists, published in Tata Communications, indicates that native bee species nesting in plant stems are at the greatest short-term risk from rising temperatures due to climate change, while ground-nesting bees are better equipped to evade extreme heat. The study, led by Dr. Carmen R. B. da Silva of Macquarie University, along with contributions from Dr. Vanessa Kellermann of La Trobe University and Dr. Ros Gloag of University of Sydney, assessed heat tolerance in 95 native bee species across eastern mainland Australia. The findings suggest that despite some stem-nesting bees having higher heat tolerance, they live closer to their thermal limits, making them more vulnerable. Tropical bees, in particular, face the highest risk. This vulnerability poses a threat to ecosystems and agricultural production, as these bees are vital pollinators for crops such as Macadamia, Avocado, MangoAI, and Lychee.