Bees From Hawaii On US Endangered Wildlife List

In an update to the Federal Lists of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has added 10 species of animals and 39 species of plants, all of them from the Hawaii islands. Among the 10 animal species, seven are different types of bees, making it the first time bees have been included in the list.

The seven yellow-faced bees added to the list are Hylaeus anthracinus, H. assimulans, H. facilis, H. hilaris, H. kuakea, H. longiceps, and H. mana. The other three animals are the Hawaiian population of the band-rumped storm-petrel (Oceanodroma castro), the orangeblack Hawaiian damselfly (Megalagrion xanthomelas) and the anchialine pool shrimp (Procaris hawaiana).

Most of the 39 plants included to the list don’t have a common name, but the entire list, as well as the ruling, can be seen on the website of the Office of the Federal Register.

The website also lists the reasons for enacting the ruling, some of which are loss and degradation of habitat due to non-native animals and plants, wildfires and water extraction; random natural events like landslides, floods, drought, tsunami or hurricanes; and human activities such as manmade structures and artificial lighting.

The new rule comes into effect from Oct. 31, 2016.