Introduction

Humans and bees have a long and entangled relationship that has been disrupted in the 20th and 21st centuries. This introductory chapter begins with an exploration of the long history of human stewardship of wild bees including the semi-domestication of the western honey bee, and the crucial role of bees of all species in early agriculture. Building on this historical sketch of the mutually beneficial relationship between humans and bees, the current global bee crisis, in which wild bees face declining population, and honey bees face declining health, is examined. While some scientists and environmental writers argue the global crisis facing bees, and other insects amounts to an ‘insectageddon’, others warn against catastrophism. The chapter ends with an argument about why capitalist agriculture should be pinpointed as the main cause of the global bee crisis.