UK bumblebees face a serious threat from climate change-induced heatwaves, according to new data from the Bumblebee Conservation Trust's BeeWalk monitoring scheme, shared exclusively with the BBC. The analysis shows that after the record-breaking heat of 2022, when temperatures reached 40.3°C, populations of three common species—red-tailed, buff-tailed, and common carder bumblebees—dropped by 20%, 25%, and 35% respectively. These declines persisted into 2023, with queen numbers below average in spring. Bumblebees are struggling because their thick, furry bodies and powerful flight muscles, adapted to cooler UK climates, cause them to overheat when air temperatures exceed 28-32°C. Dr Richard Comont explains that once internal body temperatures surpass 40°C, bees "cook themselves from the inside out" and die.