The Bees, Pollinators and Invertebrates All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) has launched an inquiry into “Securing the future for UK pollinators and key beneficial insects: Preparing against the threat of invasive species”. The Royal Entomological Society (RES), which acts as secretariat for the APPG, has published the inquiry’s terms of reference and opened the call for written evidence. Responses are being encouraged from a range of NGOs, scientists, companies and individuals with an interest in insect science, with a specific focus on recommendations for future safeguarding. The call for written evidence will close on Tuesday 7th July.
Insects continue to undergo significant declines in the UK and across the rest of the world, and recent research[1] has shown that a major cause is the arrival of invasive species, particularly those that cause novel diseases. This presents a challenge to the health and survival of UK-based pollinators: insects which are crucial to ecosystem function and food production. Assessing the threats to pollinators from invasive species and determining how the UK government should respond to them is essential to securing the success of the government’s Pollinator Action Plan and safeguarding the UK’s food supply and biodiversity.
Commenting, Barry Gardiner MP, Chair of the Bees, Pollinators and Invertebrates APPG said:
Barry Gardiner MP
Labour, Brent West
“Last year along with the Royal Entomological Society, the APPG for Bees, Pollinators and Invertebrates was established to champion some of our smallest but mightiest species.
Pollinators are at the heart of functioning ecosystems and underpin our agriculture, and yet, their numbers have plummeted in my lifetime. Our APPG inquiry will not only ascertain the risks posed by invasive species to pollinators, but also hear from experts about the UK’s level of preparedness.
With cross-party support, we will take forward specific recommendations to ensure that government delivers a Pollinator Action Plan which is as ambitious and robust as possible.”
Speaking ahead of the Royal Entomological Society’s annual Insect Week (22 – 28 June) Simon Ward, CEO, said:
Simon Ward
CEO, RES
“Public awareness of the risks posed to our UK pollinators is crucial to the success of this inquiry. Everyone can play their part by learning more about the important role UK pollinators play in our food supply and ecosystems and be ready to report any sightings of insects that we know pose significant risks, including the Asian hornet, the Himalayan balsam and the Harlequin Ladybird.”
More information about the Insect Week programme of activities and resources can be found here:
https://www.royensoc.co.uk/insectweek/
PRESS RELEASE
ENDS
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NOTES FOR EDITORS
Bees, Pollinators & Invertebrates APPG Inquiry questions:
- Level of risk – What are most pressing threats to UK pollinators and other beneficial insects regarding invasive species?
- What is the status of invasive species risk today? Which invasive species have caused the most damage to UK pollinators since the 1950s?
- What have been the impact on UK pollinators, pollination and other beneficial insects? What are the wider impacts?
- What are the main routes for introduction of invasive species to the UK?
- How might climate change make the problem worse? Which new invasive species could potentially be brought to the UK in the next 25 years as a result?
- Preparedness – Does the system in place now allow the UK to flag, assess and respond to these risks?
- How do government agencies currently flag and assess risks, and report them to DEFRA?
- Since 2000, how successful has this been? What are notable successes? Failures?
- In what ways is climate change making it more difficult to flag and assess potential threats from invasive species?
- Improvements to system – How can the UK improve this system to more effectively mitigate current and future risks?
- Which changes would make the biggest impact to the current surveillance system? How can new technologies be leveraged?
- How should success be measured when mitigating the threat to pollinators and other beneficial insects from invasive species?
- How could improvements to monitoring invasive species mitigate wider impacts (e.g. biodiversity, human health and food systems)?
- How have other countries successfully mitigated the threat from invasive species? Are these efforts replicable in the UK context?
Entomology is the study of insects. More than one million different species of insect have been described to date. They are the most abundant group of animals in the world and live in almost every habitat. Insects have lived on earth for more than 350 million years. Entomology is crucial to our understanding of human disease, agriculture, evolution, ecology, and biodiversity.
Entomologists are people who study insects, as a career, as amateurs or both.
The Royal Entomological Society (RES) is devoted to the understanding and development of insect science. It was established in 1833 and is one of the world’s leading authorities on insect conservation and control, supporting international collaboration, research and the publication of insect science discoveries and understanding. The RES aims to show every person how remarkable and valuable insects are and wants to enrich the world with insect science. It funds, organises, and supports events and activities for anyone that wants to learn more about insects and entomology through its outreach and education programmes.
Find out more and become a member at www.royentsoc.org
[1] Skinner, G.L.V., Cooke, R., Roy, H.E. et al. Meta-analysis reveals negative but highly variable impacts of invasive alien species across terrestrial insect orders. Nat Commun 17, 296 (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-67925-9
