Native solitary bees, bumblebees, and other wild pollinators provide essential ecological services and face welfare threats from pesticides, habitat loss, and disease distinct from those facing managed honeybees.
Key Facts
There are over 20,000 species of wild bees globally, most solitary and ground-nesting
Neonicotinoid pesticides impair navigation, learning, and reproduction in bumblebees
Habitat loss has eliminated native bee populations from many agricultural landscapes
Commercial bumblebee hives for crop pollination can transfer diseases to wild bee populations
Native bee populations support crop pollination even when honeybee populations are declining
Welfare Considerations
Native pollinator welfare encompasses a broader and less-studied field than managed honeybee welfare. The impact of neonicotinoid pesticides on bumblebee learning and navigation represents a form of welfare harm — impaired ability to perform life-sustaining behaviors. Habitat loss removes the nesting sites and diverse forage that native bees require. Supporting native pollinator welfare through pesticide reduction and habitat provision simultaneously benefits ecological function and individual bee welfare.
What You Can Do
Plant diverse native flowering plants that provide continuous forage for native bees
Reduce or eliminate pesticide use in home gardens, especially during flowering periods
Provide nesting habitat through bare soil patches, bee hotels, and undisturbed ground cover
Advocate for neonicotinoid restrictions and native pollinator habitat requirements in agricultural policy