What's yellow and black, has a stinger and loves pollen? Apparently, the answer to this question is fish.&nbsp;A California court has ruled that bees can now legally be fish under specific circumstances. This groundbreaking ruling is not something to be laughed at; instead, it has the intent of protecting an irreplaceable species.&nbsp;The bee population in California and elsewhere has been on a rapid decline for some years now and this ruling is a step toward righting a decades-old wrong.&nbsp;Four years back public interest groups in California approached the court, asking them to include four species of bumblebee in the state's list of endangered animals.

The state Fish and Game commission maintained the list, and they agreed to consider the request. This 'stirred up a hornet's nest' of legal proceedings.&nbsp;

In the first hearing of this case, a court denied Bees' inclusion in the list.

Watch |&nbsp;Seeking safety for bees in the urban jungle: Biologists study ways to conserve bees

<iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/seeking-safety-for-bees-in-the-urban-jungle-biologists-study-ways-to-conserve-bees-468610/embed" width="560"></iframe>

As per a report by the Wall Street Journal (WSJ), California almond farmers were very much against this inclusion.

The state annually produces 3 billion pounds of almonds, which are heavily dependent on bees pollinating as many as 1.3 million acres of the trees. Farmers and trade groups were concerned that by placing bees on the protected list, they would have to restrict farmers from working with bumblebees and from using pesticides, which can harm bees but are necessary for the preservation of almond trees.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/number-of-flying-insects-felly-by-almost-60-in-20-years-in-uk-reveals-survey-warns-of-consequences-476962">Number of flying insects fell by almost 60% in 20 years in UK, reveals survey, warns of consequences</a>

A law from 1970, California's endangered species law affords special protection to endangered "bird, mammal, bird, fish, amphibia or reptile". The farmers contended that Bees don't figure in any of these categories. The first court agreed with this reasoning.&nbsp;

However, the Fish and Game Commission appealed and the second time's the charm.

The commission pointed out that the legal definition of 'fish' in California has been vague for some time.&nbsp;When California legislators defined fish, they didn't exactly stick to the scientific classification. They included all types of seafood including molluscs, clams, crustaceans like lobsters etc.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/study-finds-the-climate-crisis-could-lead-to-a-rise-of-smaller-bees-472803">Study finds climate change could lead to a rise of smaller bees</a>

Earlier, other animals were passed off as fish. In 1980, a snail got state protection, in the next four years, even a shrimp and a crayfish were awarded protection as 'fish'. So why not bees?&nbsp;

As per the appeals court any invertebrate animal, i.e., which doesn't have a backbone, irrespective of whether it lives on land, in the sea or air can qualify for protection as 'fish'.

Now opponents are considering challenging this ruling in the state Supreme court. Will the bee be a fish for long or not? We will 'sea'.

(With inputs from agencies)

What's yellow and black, has a stinger and loves pollen? Apparently, the answer to this question is fish. A California court has ruled that bees can now legally be fish under specific circumstances.

What's yellow and black, has a stinger and loves pollen? Apparently, the answer to this question is fish. A California court has ruled that bees can now legally be fish under specific circumstances. This groundbreaking ruling is not something to be laughed at; instead, it has the intent of protecting an irreplaceable species. The bee population in California and elsewhere has been on a rapid decline for some years now and this ruling is a step toward righting a decades-old wrong. Four years back public interest groups in California approached the court, asking them to include four species of bumblebee in the state's list of endangered animals. The state Fish and Game commission maintained the list, and they agreed to consider the request. This 'stirred up a hornet's nest' of legal proceedings. In the first hearing of this case, a court denied Bees' inclusion in the list. Watch | Seeking safety for bees in the urban jungle: Biologists study ways to conserve bees As per a report by the Wall Street Journal (WSJ), California almond farmers were very much against this inclusion. The state annually produces 3 billion pounds of almonds, which are heavily dependent on bees pollinating as many as 1.3 million acres of the trees. Farmers and trade groups were concerned that by placing bees on the protected list, they would have to restrict farmers from working with bumblebees and from using pesticides, which can harm bees but are necessary for the preservation of almond trees. Also read | Number of flying insects fell by almost 60% in 20 years in UK, reveals survey, warns of consequences A law from 1970, California's endangered species law affords special protection to endangered "bird, mammal, bird, fish, amphibia or reptile". The farmers contended that Bees don't figure in any of these categories. The first court agreed with this reasoning. However, the Fish and Game Commission appealed and the second time's the charm. The commission pointed out that the legal definition of 'fish' in California has been vague for some time. When California legislators defined fish, they didn't exactly stick to the scientific classification. They included all types of seafood including molluscs, clams, crustaceans like lobsters etc. Also read | Study finds climate change could lead to a rise of smaller bees Earlier, other animals were passed off as fish. In 1980, a snail got state protection, in the next four years, even a shrimp and a crayfish were awarded protection as 'fish'. So why not bees? As per the appeals court any invertebrate animal, i.e., which doesn't have a backbone, irrespective of whether it lives on land, in the sea or air can qualify for protection as 'fish'. Now opponents are considering challenging this ruling in the state Supreme court. Will the bee be a fish for long or not? We will 'sea'. (With inputs from agencies)

Is it a bee? Is it a fish? It is endangered and needs to be protected, rules California court

Exposure to a cocktail of agrochemicals significantly increases bee mortality, according to research Wednesday that said regulators may be underestimating the dangers of pesticides in combination.

Bees&nbsp;and other pollinators are crucial for crops and wild habitats and evidence of steep drops in insect populations worldwide has prompted fears of dire consequences for food security and natural ecosystems.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/bee-populations-are-declining-drastically-find-out-how-this-phenomenon-can-wreak-havoc-globally-321218">Bee populations are declining drastically: Find out how this phenomenon can wreak havoc globally</a>

A new meta-analysis of dozens of published studies over the last 20 years looked at the interaction between agrochemicals, parasites and malnutrition on bee behaviours, such as foraging, memory, colony reproduction, and health.&nbsp;

Researchers found that when these different stressors interacted they had a negative effect on&nbsp;bees, greatly increasing the likelihood of death.

The&nbsp;study&nbsp;published in Nature also found that&nbsp;pesticide&nbsp;interaction was&nbsp;likely&nbsp;to be "synergistic", meaning that their combined impact was greater than the sum of their individual effects.&nbsp;

These "interactions between multiple agrochemicals significantly increase bee mortality," said co-author Harry Siviter, of the University of Texas at Austin.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/france-bans-two-us-pesticides-citing-risk-to-bees-266292">France bans two US pesticides, citing risk to bees</a>

The&nbsp;study&nbsp;concluded that risk assessments that fail to allow for this outcome "may underestimate the interactive effect of anthropogenic stressors on bee mortality".

Researchers said their results "demonstrate that the regulatory process in its current form does not protect&nbsp;bees&nbsp;from the unwanted consequences of complex agrochemical exposure.&nbsp;

"A failure to address this and to continue to expose&nbsp;bees&nbsp;to multiple anthropogenic stressors within agriculture will result in the continued decline in&nbsp;bees&nbsp;and their pollination services, to the detriment of human and ecosystem health," the&nbsp;study&nbsp;concluded.

In a commentary also published in Nature, Adam Vanbergen of France's National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and Environment said that pollinating insects face threats from intensive agriculture, including chemicals like fungicides and pesticides, as well as a reduction of pollen and nectar from wildflowers.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/study-reveals-that-caffeine-helps-bumblebees-pollinate-more-effectively-401414">Study reveals that caffeine helps bumblebees pollinate more effectively</a>

The industrial-scale use of managed honey&nbsp;bees&nbsp;also increases pollinator exposure to parasites and diseases.&nbsp;&nbsp;

While previous individual studies have looked at how these stressors interplay, the new meta-analysis "confirms that the cocktail of agrochemicals that&nbsp;bees&nbsp;encounter in an intensively farmed environment can create a risk to bee populations".

He said there had been a general focus on impacts on honey&nbsp;bees, but added there is a need for more research on other pollinators, which might react differently to these stressors.

Some 75 per cent of the world's crops producing fruits and seeds for human consumption rely on pollinators, including cocoa, coffee, almonds and cherries, according to the UN.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-these-bees-can-detect-covid-19-383576/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

In 2019 scientists concluded that nearly half of all insect species worldwide are in decline and a third could disappear altogether by the century's end.

One in six species of&nbsp;bees&nbsp;has gone regionally extinct somewhere in the world.

The main drivers of pollinator extinction are thought to be habitat loss and&nbsp;pesticide&nbsp;use.

Exposure to a cocktail of agrochemicals significantly increases bee mortality, according to research Wednesday that said regulators may be underestimating the dangers of pesticides in combination.

Exposure to a cocktail of agrochemicals significantly increases bee mortality, according to research Wednesday that said regulators may be underestimating the dangers of pesticides in combination. Bees and other pollinators are crucial for crops and wild habitats and evidence of steep drops in insect populations worldwide has prompted fears of dire consequences for food security and natural ecosystems. Also read | Bee populations are declining drastically: Find out how this phenomenon can wreak havoc globally A new meta-analysis of dozens of published studies over the last 20 years looked at the interaction between agrochemicals, parasites and malnutrition on bee behaviours, such as foraging, memory, colony reproduction, and health. Researchers found that when these different stressors interacted they had a negative effect on bees, greatly increasing the likelihood of death. The study published in Nature also found that pesticide interaction was likely to be "synergistic", meaning that their combined impact was greater than the sum of their individual effects. These "interactions between multiple agrochemicals significantly increase bee mortality," said co-author Harry Siviter, of the University of Texas at Austin. Also read | France bans two US pesticides, citing risk to bees The study concluded that risk assessments that fail to allow for this outcome "may underestimate the interactive effect of anthropogenic stressors on bee mortality". Researchers said their results "demonstrate that the regulatory process in its current form does not protect bees from the unwanted consequences of complex agrochemical exposure. "A failure to address this and to continue to expose bees to multiple anthropogenic stressors within agriculture will result in the continued decline in bees and their pollination services, to the detriment of human and ecosystem health," the study concluded. In a commentary also published in Nature, Adam Vanbergen of France's National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and Environment said that pollinating insects face threats from intensive agriculture, including chemicals like fungicides and pesticides, as well as a reduction of pollen and nectar from wildflowers. Also read | Study reveals that caffeine helps bumblebees pollinate more effectively The industrial-scale use of managed honey bees also increases pollinator exposure to parasites and diseases. While previous individual studies have looked at how these stressors interplay, the new meta-analysis "confirms that the cocktail of agrochemicals that bees encounter in an intensively farmed environment can create a risk to bee populations". He said there had been a general focus on impacts on honey bees, but added there is a need for more research on other pollinators, which might react differently to these stressors. Some 75 per cent of the world's crops producing fruits and seeds for human consumption rely on pollinators, including cocoa, coffee, almonds and cherries, according to the UN. In 2019 scientists concluded that nearly half of all insect species worldwide are in decline and a third could disappear altogether by the century's end. One in six species of bees has gone regionally extinct somewhere in the world. The main drivers of pollinator extinction are thought to be habitat loss and pesticide use.

Pesticide threat to bees likely 'underestimated': Study

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Is it a bee? Is it a fish? It is endangered and needs to be protected, rules California court

Pesticide threat to bees likely 'underestimated': Study