DECLINES What's going on

Why are pollinator populations down in the United States?
A non-native parasite mite introduced in the 1980s attacks honeybees. The U.S. imported pollinator honeybees for the first time since 1922 last year, raising fears of more non-native pests.
Africanized bees and antibiotic-resistant pathogens are killing off North American honeybees.
Long-term trends for wild bumblebees, butterflies, bats and hummingbirds show population declines.
Some declines are linked to non-native parasites and habitat loss, which could disrupt entire ecosystems.
More research is needed because protecting pollinator populations requires a level of knowledge that does not yet exist.
Source: The National Research Council