The Secret Pollinators

Giant Fuzzy Bombers: Bumblebees Behind a $10 Billion Crop


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One scientist called them "a monstrous, fluffy, ginger beast." Meet the giant bumble bees — the only pollinators that can buzz pollinate tomatoes, blueberries, Hatch green chiles, cranberries, and eggplant. Honeybees can't. No robot can. And these giants are vanishing — the American bumblebee has declined 90% in 20 years. In January 2026, U.S. Fish & Wildlife proposed a nationwide conservation plan covering 11 species. This episode covers the science, the $10+ billion at stake, and why nothing can replace them.

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The Secret PollinatorsBy Kelly from Montana