Bombus glacialis

Climate change (especially through warming and melting of permafrost) is likely to reduce the extent of suitable habitat available for the species (Franzen and Ockinger 2011, Franzen and Molander 2012, Rasmont et al. 2015).

No model formally studying the impact of climate change and land use change are available in the European-scale studies of Rasmont et al. (2015) and Ghisbain et al. (2023) due to the geographically restricted distribution of the species in Europe. The potential for Bombus glacialis to successfully disperse in ecologically and/or climatically suitable areas in the near future is probably null given its distribution in the highest latitudes of Europe. It is unclear whether climatic events such as the increased occurrence of droughts, heat waves, or storms will also modify the future range of this species. The resistance of B. glacialis to acute heat stress is unknown but is probably very low (cf. the resistance of closely related Arctic species in Martinet et al. 2021). Previous works on another bumblebee model have demonstrated impaired cognition of these bees at elevated temperature (Gérard et al. 2022), as well as reduced fertility (Martinet et al. 2020), and research is needed as to whether B. glacialis would be similarly threatened by repeated exposures to such temperatures. Whether the flowering plants the species is most strongly associated with will remain sufficiently abundant in the future is also unknown. A decline of its key resources could negatively affect the small populations of B. glacialis in Europe.

The species is not listed in any National Red Lists or Red Data Books. The species is not subject to any targeted conservation action, however, further research is required to establish the current status of the species in European Russia and to identify the existing threats. It does not occur within protected areas.

General efforts aimed at pollinator conservation may maintain Bombus glacialis populations. At macroscale in particular, suitable efforts include strengthened regulations about greenhouse gas emissions to mitigate the ongoing climate change and its subsequent impact on this species and other insects.