Wild Bee Welfare and Nesting Habitat

Wild bee species including bumblebees and solitary bees face population declines driven by habitat loss that eliminates nesting sites, with welfare and conservation implications for the thousands of species not covered by managed honeybee programs.

Key Facts

There are approximately 20,000 species of wild bees globally, most declining in range or abundance
Wild bees nest in bare ground, hollow stems, and dead wood — all reduced by intensification
Bumblebee colonies face starvation when floral resources within foraging distance are insufficient
Neonicotinoid pesticides impair navigation and learning in wild bees at field-realistic doses
Garden habitat creation with bare soil, hollow stems, and native flowers supports diverse wild bee communities

Welfare Considerations

Wild bee welfare encompasses both the cognitive and experiential dimensions of individual bees and the colony-level welfare of social bumblebee species. Bumblebee queens that cannot find adequate forage for colony founding face starvation during the most vulnerable period of colony development. Pesticide-exposed bees navigate poorly and find food less efficiently — chronic sublethal impairment of the behaviors they need to survive. Wild bee welfare is inseparable from the floral and nesting resources that underpin their existence.

What You Can Do

Create bare ground patches and leave hollow stems for wild bee nesting in gardens
Plant diverse native flowering plants that bloom across the entire bee active season
Avoid neonicotinoid-treated plants from garden centers
Advocate for pesticide regulation that protects wild bees at field-realistic exposures
Donate to wild bee monitoring and habitat restoration programs