Environmental group sues Trump over delay of listing bee as endangered
The Natural Resources Defense Council charges the Trump administration "broke the law" by blocking the rusty patched bumble bee from the endangered species list.
In early January, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service directed the bee to be added to the list and scheduled the official date for Feb. 10. But Trump issued an order temporarily freezing all new federal regulations a day before the species was set to receive its newfound protective status.
The earliest the bee could now be added is March 21, when the regulation freeze expires.
Named for the rust-colored marks on its back, the bee was once common and abundant across 28 states from Connecticut to South Dakota. Today, the species is only found in small, scattered populations in 13 states.
Bees are responsible for pollinating most of the plants that require insect pollination to produce fruits, seeds and nuts. Like other bees, rusty patched bumble bees pollinate important crops such as tomatoes, cranberries and peppers.
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