Hawaiian bees become the first bees to be added to the U.S. endangered species list

HONOLULU — The U.S. government has added seven species of Hawaiian bees to the endangered species list, making them the first bee species to be protected under the Endangered Species Act. <br /> <br />The seven endangered species of bees are Hylaeus anthracinus, Hylaeus longiceps, Hylaeus assimulans, Hylaeus facilis, Hylaeus hilaris, Hylaeus kuakea and Hylaeus mana. They live in many habits on the Hawaii islands, including coastlines, wet and dry forests and shrublands. <br /> <br />According to the Xerces Society, the Hawaiian bees are threatened by urbanization, fire, wild animals such as pigs, and invasive ants and plant species. <br /> <br />Bees are disappearing at an alarming rate on the mainland U.S. as well, with 20 to 40 percent of honeybee colonies collapsing every winter, the Science Alert reported. <br /> <br />Bees are vital to human beings as they are one of the world’s major pollinators. Without the bees pollinating, about 30 percent of the world’s crops and 90 percent of wild plants would die.