Bumblebee Represents Latest Endangered Species Challenge
- Alexandra Friedman
- Aug 26, 2024
- 4 min read
As California grapples with a deepening housing underproduction crisis, developers might be facing an unexpected challenger: Crotch’s bumblebee. And it could be just the beginning of a new era of endangered species protection, as more insects become eligible for protection – and the methodology for understanding listing and protection might be very different for insects.
“I do believe this huge evolution,” said David Smith, an energy and environment partner at the Manatt law firm. “It's not just about Crotch’s bumblebee, but this new era where insects are going to start being listed may get their attention and cause them to think of alternative approaches.”
The bumblebee (scientific name: Bombus crotchii) has an extremely wide range within California, including the Mediterranean region, Pacific Coast, western Mojave desert, Central Valley, and foothills, and has also been observed in southwest Nevada near the California border. They are most active between March and September, with queens most active in the spring.
