We’ve all heard it: “Bees are in trouble.” And while it’s true that pollinators face serious threats, the picture isn’t black and white. In some parts of the world - especially in regions with industrial agriculture - bee populations are declining rapidly. In North America, for example, beekeepers have reported average annual hive losses of over 30% for more than a decade. In the first eight months of 2024 alone, California reported a staggering 60% drop in bee numbers. Europe has also seen a steady decline in wild bee diversity, with nearly 1 in 10 species facing extinction risk.

But elsewhere, the trend looks different. Some countries in Asia, including China and parts of India, have seen an increase in managed bee populations due to expanded beekeeping efforts. In urban areas of Germany and Australia, native bee populations have even stabilized thanks to local conservation initiatives. Still, these gains don’t erase the fact that over 30 species of bees are currently listed as endangered - and many more are likely under threat without formal assessment.

So what actually happens when bees disappear from an ecosystem?

1. Disrupted Food Production

Roughly 90% of the world’s food crops depend on animal pollination - and bees are the MVPs of this system. Without them, yields from crops like almonds, apples, and blueberries drop dramatically.

Take almonds: California produces 80% of the world’s supply, and each tree requires bee pollination. Between June 2024 and February 2025, California saw a 60% drop in bee numbers - resulting in a shortfall of half a million hives. This led to crop losses and higher prices across the board.

Could we replace bees with human labor or tech? Not easily. Hand pollinating an apple orchard can cost $5,000 to $7,000 per hectare, and drones - while promising - are still inefficient and expensive. Even with full automation, nothing can match the scale and accuracy of natural pollinators.

2. Loss of Biodiversity

Bees do more than help crops grow. They support the reproduction of wild plants, too - flowers, shrubs, and trees that form the backbone of natural ecosystems. When bee populations drop, these plants often disappear, too. That means less food for herbivores, fewer habitats for birds, and more strain on predators up the chain.

This isn't just about pretty flowers. Plant diversity also helps prevent soil erosion, retains water, and stores carbon. When bees vanish, these natural services weaken, leading to ecosystem breakdown.

3. Economic Impact

Globally, bees contribute an estimated $577 billion in pollination services every year. In the UK alone, the number is around £700 million. Replacing their work with human labor would cost at least £1.8 billion, not including equipment or training.

Even partial losses have big consequences. A study of UK apple orchards found that poor pollination led to a 50% drop in fruit yield and 42% loss in profits. The economic ripple effect touches farmers, supply chains, grocery stores, and consumers.

Not really. Butterflies, moths, beetles, birds, and bats all help with pollination - but they aren’t built for the job like bees. Non-bee insects account for just 38% of crop pollination. Butterflies have smooth legs that don’t pick up pollen well. Moths and bats are mostly nocturnal. Birds like hummingbirds are limited to tropical climates and specialize in a narrow set of flowers.

In short: no other group can match bees in efficiency, coverage, or global scale.

If bees were to disappear entirely, the consequences would be massive and immediate. Food prices would spike, biodiversity would shrink, ecosystems would destabilize, and entire industries would face collapse.

There’s no simple replacement. Bees are central to the way the natural world - and our global economy - functions. Protecting them isn’t just a nice idea. It’s essential.