Pollinators Beyond Bees: Neglected Welfare Frontiers

While bees attract most welfare and conservation attention, thousands of other pollinator species are in decline. Broadening our welfare lens to include hoverflies, butterflies, and beetles is important.

Key Facts

There are around 6,000 species of pollinator in Britain and Ireland, of which only 275 are bees
Hoverflies are estimated to contribute as much as 30% of pollination services in some ecosystems
Butterfly populations have declined by 80% on UK farmland since the 1970s
Many pollinator declines are driven by pesticide use, habitat loss, and climate-driven phenological mismatch
The welfare status of non-bee pollinators is almost entirely unstudied
Hoverfly larvae inhabit a wide range of microhabitats including rotting wood, water, and soil

Welfare Considerations

Our moral and scientific attention to pollinator welfare is almost entirely concentrated on honeybees and bumblebees. Yet the ecological function - and possibly the welfare - of thousands of other pollinator species is equally significant. Hoverflies, soldier beetles, moths, and many wasp species provide essential pollination services and may experience something of welfare relevance, particularly given emerging evidence of invertebrate nociception. The practical implication is that pollinator conservation efforts should be broadened: diverse native wildflower habitats, reduced pesticide use, and preservation of deadwood, bare ground, and wetland margins benefit the full range of pollinator diversity.

What You Can Do

Plant a diverse range of native wildflowers to support the full spectrum of pollinators
Reduce or eliminate pesticide use in gardens - choose organic alternatives
Create habitat diversity: leave areas of bare soil, deadwood, and long grass
Follow the UK Butterfly Monitoring Scheme to track species in your area
Support land management schemes that reward farmers for pollinator-friendly practices