Meet the man on a mission to photograph every species of bumblebee in the Americas – a Herculean task!

Clay Bolt, a conservation photographer, is on a mission to capture images of every bumblebee species in the Americas – a daunting task that has taken him a decade to complete. In Patagonia, he encountered the largest bumblebee in the world, known as 'the flying mouse' due to its vibrant orange colour. Describing the experience, Bolt said, "It was like a comet flying through a field."

Bolt's expedition to Puerto Blest in Argentine Patagonia aimed to highlight the decline of native species due to an invasive European bumblebee. He joined a team working to document how the invasive species is driving native species to extinction. Despite facing torrential rain and the looming possibility of not spotting the species, Bolt found joy in the experience, stating, "That's what makes this work worth it."

So far, Bolt has photographed around 88 out of 90 bumblebee species in the Americas. The remaining 12 species remain elusive, making his task Herculean. He views photography as a powerful tool to raise awareness about the dwindling bee populations, which face threats like climate change, pollution, pesticides, habitat loss, and invasive species. With bees playing a crucial role in pollinating crops, their decline is a cause for serious concern.