Thomas R. Oliver
PhD student
PhD student
In January 2021, the UK government approved the use of a neonicotinoid pesticide for emergency use as a seed treatment on sugar beet. The an...
Unfortunately, it isn't as simple as it seems. As the 'Save The Bees' movement gains momentum, it is often exploited by businesses looking to improve their public image.
Thanks to this phenomenon (known as 'bee-washing'), there is a great deal of misinformation about the plight of bees going around. Let's look at the facts.
When they hear 'save the bees', lots of people think of honeybees. However, did you know that there are over 20,000 species of bee in the world, and only 8 of those are honeybees?
It is wild bees, including bumblebees and solitary bees, which are struggling. What's more, because of beekeeping, honeybee numbers are actually increasing, despite evidence that their presence is harmful to wild bees.
Honeybees don't need saving
There are more than 100,000 species of pollinators worldwide, and only around a fifth of those are bee species. Bees are the most efficient pollinators, but butterflies, moths, beetles, and flies are also essential pollinators which need our help.
Aside from pollinators, there are also thousands of other species which are vital to our agricultural ecosystems, including the humble earthworm, for example.
Other species need help, too
We all know pesticides are bad news for bees. However, they are still being used widely across the world as we continue to prioritise crop yield over the health of our ecosystems, despite how shortsighted this seems.
Sadly, it isn't as simple as banning pesticides either. Habitat loss, environmental pollution, and extreme weather due to climate change are also wreaking havoc on wild bee populations.
Saving the bees is complex
