Getting the buzz

摘要

Why has the loss of wildflowers in the countryside affected most but not all of our bumblebee species? And why do the experts need your help to find bumblebee nests? The buzz of a bumblebee is unmistakable. A deep, loud, lazy vibration, like an old Lancaster bomber on a Sunday jaunt Not an angry sound like a wasp, not a harsh, zippy sound like a fly Just a gentle buzz, with the passive nature of a busy, bumbling bee written right into it, It's a sound that heralds spring and typifies summer. A soundof flowery meadows and gorgeous gardens, bluebell woods and long summei evenings. But it is a sound to cherish, for it is a lot less common than it used to be Bumblebees are in trouble. They have not appreciated the changes in agri-cultureover the past century Many once familiar species have declined to the verge of extinction. The small group of species that remain common are ever more reliant on gardeners to supply them with the flowers they need.