Welfare of Wild Pollinators Beyond Honey Bees

Wild bumblebees, solitary bees, hoverflies, and other pollinators face severe population declines with welfare implications at both individual and ecosystem levels.

Key Facts

Over 20,000 bee species exist globally — honey bees are just one
Bumblebee populations have declined by up to 90% in parts of North America and Europe
Neonicotinoid pesticides impair bumblebee navigation, foraging, and reproduction at sublethal doses
Solitary bees that cannot return to their nests after pesticide exposure die from exposure and starvation
Wild pollinators provide services estimated at 200-300 billion dollars annually to global agriculture

Welfare Considerations

Wild pollinator welfare involves individual harm from pesticide exposure — sublethal doses impairing navigation mean bees cannot return to nests, dying lost and starving — and habitat loss that removes the floral resources needed for survival. Bumblebee colony welfare includes queens that face extreme physiological stress founding colonies. The ecological scale of pollinator decline affects all flowering plants and the animals that depend on them, making this an issue with cascading welfare implications.

What You Can Do

Plant a diverse array of native flowering plants flowering from spring through fall
Avoid neonicotinoid pesticides in gardens — choose systemic-pesticide-free plants
Install solitary bee nesting habitat — bundled hollow stems or bee hotels with appropriate diameters
Support Friends of the Earth campaigns for neonicotinoid bans and pollinator corridor protection