Bad air quality raises mortality in honey bees, a concern for all pollinators

Abstract Human well-being relies significantly on the presence and role of pollinators, as they contribute to the vitality of ecosystems, support the reproduction of wild plants, increase crop yields, and strengthen overall food security​1​. While wild bee populations are dwindling​2​ due to climate and environmental shifts, there has been a notable 45% rise globally in managed honey bee colonies over the past five decades​3​. Given their economic significance, this focus on Apis Mellifera is attributed to their ability to serve as bioindicators of global pollinator health and ease of tracking. Consequently, honey bees have emerged as a keystone species requiring protection and conservation efforts. Here, we investigate the intricate relationship between air quality, vegetation density, wind speed, and honey bee mortality across North America. Using descriptive statistics and machine learning techniques, our findings underscored the honey bee's role as a bioindicator, with a higher Air Quality Index strongly correlating to increased mortality. Conversely, elevated greenness demonstrated a robust correlation with reduced mortality. Our results show how air quality and greenness strongly drive honey bee survival. Overall, our study offered a beacon of hope: increasing greenery within the region facing poor air quality and improving management tools and practices can significantly alleviate the impact of deteriorating air quality, providing a vital solution to safeguard our essential pollinators.