Wild bees are critical pollinators whose populations are declining due to habitat loss, and creating nesting opportunities in urban and suburban environments can support their recovery.
Wild bees experience welfare impacts primarily through habitat degradation, pesticide exposure, and food scarcity. Ground-nesting species lose nesting sites when bare soil is compacted or covered with grass or pavement. Cavity-nesters lose nesting opportunities when dead wood and hollow stems are removed from gardens and parks. Pesticide exposure causes sub-lethal neurological effects that impair navigation, learning, and reproduction. Urban conservation efforts can meaningfully address all three factors: leaving bare patches of soil, installing properly constructed bee hotels, planting diverse pollen-rich plants, and eliminating pesticide use from urban green spaces.