Emerging Threats to Bees Include War Zones, Microplastics, and Street Lighting, Scientists Warn
Bees are facing a growing range of threats, including conflict zones, microplastic pollution, and artificial lighting, according to a new scientific report.
A team of bee specialists has identified the 12 most significant risks facing pollinators over the next decade. Their findings are detailed in a new report by the University of Reading and Bee:wild, Emerging Threats and Opportunities for Conservation of Global Pollinators.
The report highlights how rising global conflict, such as the war in Ukraine, is negatively impacting bee populations. In areas of conflict, reduced crop diversity has left pollinators with fewer sources of food throughout the growing season.
Microplastics have also been detected in hives across Europe. Analysis of 315 honey bee colonies revealed the presence of synthetic particles, including PET plastic, in most samples. Meanwhile, artificial light from street lamps has been shown to reduce flower visits by night-time pollinators by as much as 62%. Air pollution further compounds the problem, impairing pollinator survival, development, and reproductive health.
Antibiotics used in agriculture are increasingly finding their way into hives and honey, altering pollinator behaviour by diminishing flower visits and foraging activity. Additionally, combinations of pesticides—often referred to as “cocktails”—pose a rising concern. Even when individual pesticides are applied at levels considered safe, interactions with other chemicals can lead to harmful effects.
Prof Simon Potts of Reading University, the lead author on the report, said: “Identifying new threats and finding ways to protect pollinators early is key to preventing further major declines. This is not just a conservation issue. Pollinators are central to our food systems, climate resilience and economic security. Protecting pollinators means protecting ourselves.”
In response to these findings, the report’s authors are urging several protective measures: stricter regulations to curb antibiotic contamination, wider adoption of electric vehicles to cut air pollution, development of flower-rich environments within solar parks, and cultivation of crop varieties that offer improved pollen and nectar to support pollinator nutrition.
The report’s co-author Dr Deepa Senapathi, also from the University of Reading, added: “It will take effort from everyone to address these threats. We need to maintain, manage and improve our natural habitats to create safe spaces for pollinators. Individual actions like providing food and nesting areas in our own back gardens can help in a big way. But policy changes and individual actions must work together so everything from gardens and farms to public spaces and wider landscapes can all become pollinator-friendly habitats.”
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