Invertebrates

Wild Bee Conservation and Welfare

Wild bee populations are in steep decline due to pesticides, habitat loss, and disease, with significant welfare and ecological consequences.

Key Facts

Over 20,000 species of wild bees exist globally
Wild bees pollinate 75% of food crops and nearly all wild plants
Neonicotinoid pesticides are strongly linked to bee population declines
Habitat loss from intensive agriculture eliminates nesting sites and forage plants
Native bee habitat can be restored through simple garden and farm management changes

Welfare Considerations

Wild bees face stressors from pesticides, disease, and habitat loss that reduce their lifespan and reproductive success. Pesticide sublethal effects impair navigation and foraging ability, causing bees to become lost and unable to return to nests. Collective welfare improvements require landscape-scale habitat restoration and pesticide reform.

What You Can Do

Plant a diverse range of native flowering plants
Avoid pesticide use in gardens and choose organic products
Leave areas of bare soil for ground-nesting bee habitat
Support pesticide reform legislation
Donate to wild bee research and conservation organizations