Data from: Global decline of bumblebees is phylogenetically structured and inversely related to species range size and pathogen incidence

Conservation biology can profit greatly from incorporating a phylogenetic perspective into analyses of patterns and drivers of species extinction risk. We applied such approach to analyse patterns of bumblebee (<i>Bombus</i>) decline. We assembled a database representing ~43% of the ~260 globally known species, which included species extinction risk assessments following IUCN RedList categories and criteria, and information on species traits presumably associated with bumblebee decline. We quantified the strength of phylogenetic signal in decline, range size, tongue length, and parasite presence. Overall, about one-third of the assessed bumblebees are declining and declining species are not randomly distributed across the <i>Bombus</i> phylogeny. Susceptible species were overrepresented in the subgenus <i>Thoracobombus</i> (ca.64%) and underrepresented in the subgenus <i>Pyrobombus</i> (ca.6%). Phylogenetic logistic regressions revealed that species with small geographic ranges and those in which none of three internal parasites were reported (i.e. <i>Crithidia bombi</i>, <i>Nosema</i> spp. or <i>Locustacarus buchneri</i>) were particularly vulnerable. Bumblebee evolutionary history will be deeply eroded if most species from threatened clades, particularly those stemming from basal nodes, become finally extinct. The habitat of species with restricted distribution should be protected and the importance of pathogen tolerance/resistance as mechanisms to deal with pathogens needs urgent research.