Invertebrates

Pollinators Beyond Honeybees

Wild bees, butterflies, and other pollinators are declining globally, with welfare and ecosystem service consequences that extend far beyond honey production.

Key Facts

Over 20,000 species of bees exist globally, the vast majority wild rather than managed
North America has lost approximately 25% of its native bee species since 1990
Bumblebee populations have declined by over 30% in the US in the last two decades
Butterflies in Europe have declined by 50% since 1990
Wild pollinators contribute an estimated $3.3 trillion annually to global food production

Welfare Considerations

Wild pollinators face welfare threats from pesticide poisoning, habitat loss, disease, and climate change. Individual insects experience pain-like states and navigate complex environments using sophisticated cognitive abilities. The loss of wild pollinator diversity represents both a welfare harm to billions of individual invertebrates and an ecosystem service loss that ultimately harms all animals dependent on the food chains that flowering plants support.

What You Can Do

Plant diverse native flowering plants to support wild pollinators
Stop using systemic pesticides like neonicotinoids that harm bee nervous systems
Support agriculture policies that protect pollinator habitat
Donate to bumblebee conservation programs
Advocate for landscape-scale habitat management that benefits pollinator diversity