Scientists are tuning in to plight of the bumblebee

THE growing threat to the bumblebee is to be investigated by scientists who fear they are dying out throughout Britain.

A team of researchers at the University of Southampton’s School of Biological Sciences is launching a special project which they hope will help halt the decline of bumblebees in the countryside.

The widespread growth of intensive farming in many parts of the country has been blamed for the threat to their survival.

Dr Dave Goulson, the project leader, said: "Survival of at least five rare species is threatened by the spread of intensive agriculture destroying wild flowers and hedgerows which are their natural habitat.

"Colonies do not seem to be able to survive in small areas such as nature reserves and many are dying out. Three species are already extinct in the UK."

Now Dr Goulson and a team of PhD students will use DNA fingerprinting to detect how many nests there are on islands in the Inner and Outer Hebrides, where farming is more traditional and rare bees more common.