Bee populations face threats from pesticides, habitat loss, disease, and climate change. Conservation requires distinguishing between managed honeybees and the 20,000+ native bee species with different needs.
Bee welfare operates at the level of colonies for social species and individuals for solitary bees. Pesticide exposure causes individual bee suffering through neurological effects - disorientation, trembling, and inability to navigate before death. Varroa mites in honeybee colonies cause individual bee welfare harm through feeding on adult bees and reproducing in developing brood, reducing bee lifespan and health. The welfare of managed honeybees depends on beekeeper practices - some management approaches prioritize honey production over colony health. Wild native bee welfare is primarily affected by habitat quality and pesticide exposure. Conservation approaches that create diverse, pesticide-free habitat serve the welfare of the enormous diversity of native bee species.