Wild honeybee populations in the European Union were officially classified as endangered last October, entering the Red List of the International Union for Conservation of Nature. The decision marks a turning point in how scientists and policymakers view the western honeybee, Apis mellifera, long associated primarily with managed hives.

For decades, attention focused on domesticated colonies tended by beekeepers, especially after major losses reported in the early 2000s. Wild populations — colonies living and reproducing without human intervention — remained largely overlooked. In 2020, the Honey Bee Watch initiative, working with the IUCN, adopted an ecological definition of “wild,” identifying self-sustaining colonies independent of human management.

New data show that Europe has the world’s lowest density of wild honeybee colonies, with numbers declining due to habitat loss, disease, parasites and hybridisation. The endangered status recognizes wild honeybees as native wildlife and calls for stronger habitat protection, disease control and research to safeguard a crucial genetic resource for future ecosystem and agricultural resilience.

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