Specieswatch: How heatwaves play havoc with bees’ fertility

A new study from the University of Hull has found that heatwaves significantly reduce bee fertility, with consequences that could ripple through food production for years to come. Researchers led by Professor James Gilbert simulated an extreme three-day heat event on solitary red mason bees and compared them to bees raised under normal summer conditions. The results showed striking declines in fertility that would impair the bees' ability to pollinate crops. According to The Guardian, the research underscores how climate extremes don't just affect humans—they threaten the insects that sustain our food systems.

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