Welfare of Wild Pollinators Beyond Honey Bees

Conservation focus on honey bees has overshadowed the welfare and conservation needs of thousands of wild bee, butterfly, moth, and fly pollinator species.

Key Facts

Over 20,000 wild bee species exist globally, most of which are solitary nesters with very different needs from honey bees
Wild pollinator populations have declined by 30-50% in most monitored regions over the past 30 years
Solitary bees nesting in bare ground, hollow stems, and wood are eliminated by tidy garden and farming practices
Butterflies and moths need larval food plants — usually specific native species — that are removed by agricultural intensification
Honey bee welfare advocacy does not automatically protect wild pollinators who have distinct ecological requirements

Welfare Considerations

The welfare of wild pollinators extends beyond honey bees to encompass thousands of species with individual welfare needs shaped by their biology. A solitary mason bee who cannot find an unmanaged bank of bare earth in which to nest faces a welfare problem. A comma butterfly whose caterpillar food plant has been removed from field margins cannot complete its lifecycle. These are not just population statistics — they represent individual animal welfare failures at enormous scale. Restoring wild pollinator habitat means accepting the messiness that wild creatures need.

What You Can Do

Leave areas of bare earth and dead wood for solitary bee nesting in gardens and land you manage
Plant native larval food plants for butterflies and moths alongside nectar flowers
Advocate for agricultural policy that protects field margins and hedgerows for wild pollinator habitat
Support organizations monitoring and advocating for wild pollinator welfare beyond honey bees