New research reveals microplastics and wars threatened by emerging bees

A new report released on World Bee Day identifies twelve emerging threats that could accelerate pollinator losses over the next decade, with microplastics, conflict-driven crop simplification and poorly planned climate action on the list. Bee: Wild’s discovery is a global campaign led by science, highlighting how these novel dangers complicate good threats such as habitat loss and pesticides.

Why is this important? Nearly 90% of flowering plants and three-quarters of the world’s food crops depend on powdered media such as bees, butterflies and bats. Our food security and natural ecosystems are undecided as these important species face increasing pressure.

Hidden pollutants are the main concern

Titled “Emerging Threats and Opportunities to Protect Pollinators Globally,” the report identified several less-known forms of pollution as serious new risks to pollinators.

“Microplastics are more extensive than previously thought. They can also pose a serious threat to wild pollinators.” The report notes, citing studies that show that these tiny plastic particles can increase mortality, reduce weight and change bees’ midgut health.

Tests from 315 bee colonies in Europe show synthetic materials such as PET plastic in most beehives, suggesting widespread contamination that may affect wild pollinators.

Other emerging pollution threats include:

• Antibiotic residues may affect bee feeding behavior
• Air pollution damages insect survival and reproduction
• Artificial light at night reduces flower visits from night pollinators by 62%
• Heavy metals that affect bees’ health, behavior and survival

War and conflict pose unexpected threats

Surprisingly, conflict zones are causing new harm to pollinators. Countries affected by war or heavily dependent on food imports often prioritize domestic production of staple crops, simplifying agricultural landscapes and reducing plant diversity.

According to Professor Simon Potts, the principal author and chairman of the Science Advisory Board of Bee: Wild, “By taking early action, we can reduce harm and help pollinators continue their important work in nature and food production.”

“Identifying new threats and finding ways to protect pollinators as early as possible is key to preventing further declines,” he continued.

Backfire climate solutions

Some good climate change mitigation efforts have inadvertently brought new challenges to pollinators:

Fast-growing trees that capture carbon capture often damage wildlife when replacing flower-rich habitats. Although the European Commission aims to plant 3 billion trees by 2030, the report notes that species selection and placement are crucial to avoiding ecological damage.

Other climate-related issues include the increase in mining of battery materials for electric vehicles and the increasing shift to indoor farming, which eliminates habitats of wild pollinators while often introducing hosted bees that may compete with wild species.

Solution

The report is not doom and melancholy. It also identifies twelve promising opportunities for pollinator protection, including:

1. Laws to limit antibiotic contamination
2. Transition to electric vehicles to reduce air pollution
3. Plant breeding to enhance pollen and nectar for better pollinator nutrition
4. Create affluent habitats in solar parks
5. Develop targeted RNA-based therapies that control pests without damaging beneficial insects

“The meaningful action to protect bees is not a ‘good’ future’ desire for the future – practical solutions that we already have now exist, and more desires are emerging,” explains Deepa Senapathi, Ph.D., co-author and vice-chair of Wild’s scientific advisory board.

She added: “The most promising opportunity is the opportunity to solve multiple problems at once. Concentrated and determined actions can be greatly slowed down, even down reverse pollinators while creating environments that are beneficial to nature and people.”

What can we do?

Bee: Wild’s executive director Eva Kruse stressed that everyone can play a role: “We are already alerting the decline of pollinators, but this new report emphasizes that the threat is expanding. Rather than hopeful, it is full of despair, but a fanatical purpose: the wild campaign is to fuel ferocity and make everyone give to everyone.”

“We all can do a lot to help save our pollinators, in our homes and in our daily lives. It’s important to plant flowering plants to feed them, provide outdoor shelter, and consider healthier diets like plant-based and pesticide-free.”

Razan Khalifa Al Mubarak, President of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), provided the foreword to the report, noting: “The choices we make today will affect the future – not only pollinators, but also for all life on Earth.

As the report concludes: “It’s not just a biodiversity issue: pollinators are at the heart of our food systems, climate resilience and economic security. Protecting them means protecting yourself.”

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