Invertebrate Welfare

Welfare of Wild Pollinators Beyond Honey Bees

Wild pollinators including over 20,000 species of native bees face welfare threats from pesticide use, habitat loss, and disease that receive less attention than honey bee decline.

Key Facts

Over 20,000 species of wild bees provide pollination services globally
Bumblebees have been shown to experience something like pessimistic cognitive bias when stressed
Native bees need nesting habitat ranging from bare ground to hollow stems
Neonicotinoid pesticides impair navigation and reproduction in native bees
Wild bee populations have declined dramatically in most countries over past decades

Welfare Considerations

Wild pollinator welfare is poorly researched compared to honey bees despite involving far more species. Evidence of cognitive states in bumblebees suggests welfare consideration may be warranted. Habitat provision and pesticide reduction are the primary welfare and conservation interventions.

What You Can Do

Plant native wildflowers to support wild bee populations
Provide diverse nesting habitat including bare ground and hollow stems
Eliminate neonicotinoid use in gardens and advocate for agricultural bans
Support native pollinator monitoring programs and citizen science