Race to stop rice-sized bee from a silent extinction

Scientists have discovered a tiny bee in Fiji that is already in danger of dying out forever. The bee, called Hylaeus navai, is smaller than a grain of rice and was only officially described by scientists in 2024. Researchers believe its population has dropped by 99 percent over the last 150 years. They are now racing to learn more about it before it disappears completely.

Scientist Tegan Edwards traveled to Fiji for a month to search for the bee. She worked in hot, humid, and rainy conditions, using a 9-metre pole with a net to try to catch the tiny insects. It was difficult, slow work — all to find a creature that almost no one has ever heard of. Ms. Edwards says this kind of situation is common with insects, because there are so many species and they are hard to spot and study.

The masked bee faces what scientists call a 'silent extinction.' This means a species can disappear without most people even knowing it existed. Researchers published their findings this week in a scientific journal called Ecology and Evolution. The results showed that the bee's population has collapsed dramatically, and the species is now considered critically endangered.

James Dorey, a scientist from the University of Wollongong in Australia, first found a single Hylaeus navai on a trip to Fiji in 2016. He then found many more on two visits in 2019. By studying the bee's genes, or DNA, scientists can estimate how large the population used to be and how much it has shrunk. Dr. Dorey said the data shows the population was far larger about 100 years ago than it is today.

Scientists believe the population collapse is linked to colonization in Fiji, which brought habitat destruction and the use of pesticides. Cyclones, which are powerful tropical storms, have also damaged the habitats where these bees live. Another threat is the African tulip plant, which has red flowers that attract the bees — but the plant is actually poisonous to many bee species. Together, these dangers have pushed the tiny bee close to extinction.

Bees play a huge role in keeping ecosystems healthy. They pollinate the plants that provide food for humans and animals around the world. Without bees, many plants could not reproduce, which would harm entire food chains. Ms. Edwards says it is important to protect pollinators like bees, no matter how small they are.

The research team has not been back to Fiji to check on the bee population since 2024. Dr. Dorey says monitoring the bee is hard because it takes a lot of skill and physical effort to use the nets needed to catch them. Scientists also need local people in Fiji who can watch over the insects throughout the year. A partnership with the University of the South Pacific, funded by an Australian government grant, aims to train Fijian students to carry out this important research year-round.