Bee and non-bee pollinator importance for local food security
Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 17, 2025

A Rapid Method to Confine and Safely Handle Bees in the Field
Published on: August 23, 2024
Fabrice Requier1, Nestor Pérez-Méndez2, Georg K S Andersson3
1Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, IRD, UMR Évolution, Génomes, Comportement et Écologie, 91198, Gif-sur-Yvette, France.
Abstract:
Pollinators are critical for food security; however, their contribution to the pollination of locally important crops is still unclear, especially for non-bee pollinators. We reviewed the diversity, conservation status, and role of bee and non-bee pollinators in 83 different crops described either as important for the global food market or of local importance. Bees are the most commonly recorded crop floral visitors. However, non-bee pollinators are frequently recorded visitors to crops of local importance. Non-bee pollinators in tropical ecosystems include nocturnal insects, bats, and birds. Importantly, nocturnal pollinators are neglected in current diurnal-oriented research and are experiencing declines. The integration of non-bee pollinators into scientific studies and conservation agenda is urgently required for more sustainable agriculture and safeguarding food security for both globally and locally important crops.
Related Concept Videos
Pollination and Flower Structure
Biodiversity and Human Values
Microorganisms in Agriculture and Food industry
Optimal Foraging
Inclusive Fitness
Threats to Biodiversity

