Native solitary bees, which make up the majority of bee species, face welfare challenges from habitat loss and need nesting sites that support their life cycles.
Native bee welfare is closely tied to nesting habitat availability. Solitary bees provision their nests with pollen and nectar for larvae before sealing the nest - they invest substantial energy and time in creating conditions for their offspring. Loss of nesting habitat forces bees to expend more energy searching for suitable sites, reducing reproductive success and increasing physiological stress. Pesticide exposure affects navigation, learning and reproductive success in ways that cause individual welfare harm. Creating gardens and green spaces that include undisturbed ground, dead wood and hollow stems directly addresses native bee welfare at the individual level while also supporting population viability. The tidying impulse in garden management is often directly contrary to native bee welfare needs.