Bees, Pollinators and Invertebrates APPG Inquiry 2026

“Securing the future for UK pollinators and key beneficial insects:

Preparing against the threat of invasive species”

Insects continue to undergo significant declines in the UK and across the rest of the world. Whilst this concerning headline obscures a more nuanced picture (data are lacking from most of the world, numbers of some species have stabilised, with others even improving, particularly those suited to human-dominated habitats), the overall trend is nevertheless concerning with significant numbers of insects continuing to decline.

There are multiple reasons for the decline, principally land use changes, and pesticide usage. However, recent research has shown that another cause is the arrival of invasive species, particularly those that cause novel diseases. Invasive species are those introduced outside of their natural range, which spread rapidly, and cause ecological damage by preying on native species or competing with them for resources, or by spreading disease, leading to reductions in the number of native insects, or in the extreme case, extinction. The risk is exacerbated by global climate change.

On a global scale, recent analysis assessing the impact of invasive species on several insect orders, found that invasive species reduce the abundance of insects by 31% and species richness by 26%. It is also well established that insects on islands such as Great Britain and Ireland will be more negatively affected by invasive species, as they have isolated ranges and it is harder to recolonise after extinction.

Such a situation presents a challenge to the health and survival of UK-based pollinators. The Asian Hornet, perhaps the most publicised and well-known invasive insect species in the UK today, predates honeybees and social wasps, as well as other invertebrates like flies and spiders.

This threat to pollinators from the hornet and other invasive species has the potential to damage ecosystem function, which in turn could result in negative impacts on food production.

The potential threat to UK pollinators and other beneficial insects posed by invasive species, then, requires significant attention and monitoring.

Political context

Invasive species and their impact on pollinators and other beneficial insects is relevant to multiple important public policy issues:

Climate change adaptation: Climate change may drive the migration of new invasive species to the UK and result in further insect decline.
Protecting wider ecosystem: Pollinators are central to a functioning ecosystem; declining numbers of pollinators may seriously impact wider animal and plant health.
Supporting the UK food sector: Declining pollinator and other beneficial insect numbers will damage arable farming in the UK, which would in turn have a detrimental effect on consumers and those employed in that sector.
Public spending: It will be more cost-effective for the government to invest in preventative measures than to deal with the aftermath of a major episode of invasive species spreading.
Pollinator Action Plan: the inquiry will be conducted as the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) drafts the new UK Pollinator Action Plan (linked to the Environmental Improvement Plan); one of the plan’s key themes identified by DEFRA is pollinator health- the plan is expected towards the end of 2026.

Purpose and objectives

The purpose of the inquiry will be to ascertain whether the UK’s current surveillance, biosecurity and response systems are sufficient to detect and mitigate the threats posed by invasive species to pollinators and other beneficial insects early enough.

This focus on biosecurity and pollinators and other beneficial insects means the inquiry is not a general study of invasive species in the UK: it will not focus on issues such as the threats posed by invasive insect species to human health (e.g. Oak processionary moth) or crop pests unrelated to pollination (e.g. Colorado potato beetle).

However, the scope of the inquiry will allow for examining the impact that threats to of invasive insect species might pose to wider UK biodiversity.

At a more granular level, this leads to three main issues which will ensure the inquiry answers its central question:

Level of risk – What are most pressing threats to UK pollinators and other beneficial insects regarding invasive species? What impacts might declining pollinators have for the wider UK ecosystem?
Preparedness – Does the system in place now allow the UK to flag, assess and respond to these risks?
Improvements to system – How can the UK improve this system to more effectively mitigate current and future risks?

Inquiry structure and evidence gathering

The inquiry will gather evidence through two main channels: a call to stakeholders for written evidence, and a series of parliamentary oral evidence sessions.

Written evidence: The Bees, Pollinators and Invertebrates APPG will send a full terms-of-reference document to select stakeholders, with a list of questions based on the three key areas above. Stakeholders will be drawn from insect scientists and other experts working to identify invasive species and advise government on mitigating the threats they pose. Each answer will have a 400 word limit.

Parliamentary sessions: A panel of parliamentarians will hold two inquiry sessions, during which witnesses will answer questions. The first session will focus on defining and assessing the specific threats posed by invasive species, and the second session will seek to address the state of the UK’s response, and recommendations on how to improve it.

The sessions will be filmed and released ahead of the publication of the full inquiry report.

Inquiry panel

The panel will consist of the following cross-party grouping:

Chair – Barry Gardiner MP (Labour, Chair of Bees, Pollinators and Invertebrates APPG).
Pippa Heylings MP (Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Energy Security and Net Zero).
Manuela Perteghella MP (Liberal Democrat, Member of Environmental Audit Committee)
Adrian Ramsay MP (Green Party Spokesperson for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs).
Lord Randall of Uxbridge (Conservative, Vice Chair of Bees, Pollinators and Invertebrates APPG).
Blake Stephenson MP (Conservative, Member of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee).