Colony collapse disorder and broader pollinator declines represent a major welfare crisis for bees, driven by pesticide exposure, habitat loss, varroa mite infestation, and the stresses of commercial migratory beekeeping.
The welfare of individual bees is a matter of genuine scientific debate, but the evidence that bees experience states relevant to wellbeing — including apparent negative affect in response to threats — is growing. At the colony level, the welfare implications of mass die-offs, chronic sub-lethal pesticide poisoning impairing normal behaviour, and the stresses of commercial migratory beekeeping are clear. Varroa mites cause direct physical harm including haemolymph feeding and viral transmission. Protecting bee welfare requires addressing the systemic drivers of decline, including agricultural pesticide regimes, monoculture landscapes, and trade policies that have allowed varroa to spread globally.