Pollinators including bees, butterflies, and hoverflies are in global decline due to agricultural intensification. Beyond ecological impact, insect welfare considerations are emerging.
Pollinator welfare sits at the intersection of ecological conservation and individual animal welfare. The sheer number of insects affected by agricultural pesticides - potentially billions of individual bees, butterflies, and flies experiencing pesticide-induced harm - gives this issue enormous moral weight even under precautionary assumptions about insect sentience. Reducing pesticide use, restoring flowering habitats, and supporting organic and agroecological farming are actions that benefit both pollinator populations and potentially the welfare of individual insects experiencing these environments.