MAIL-ORDER SOLITARY BEE COCOONS AS A GATEWAY FOR BIOLOGICAL INVASION

Abstract

The unregulated online trade of solitary bee cocoons, particularly mason bees (Osmia spp.), poses growing risks to biodiversity. Marketed as tools to enhance pollination, these mail-order cocoons can include non-native species, including invasive ones that are difficult to distinguish from native bees. Such introductions can displace native bees and spread parasites and pathogens, undermining the stability of wild bee communities. Existing regulations in Canada and the U.S. remain fragmented and insufficient to address these threats. We recommend extending regulatory oversight, enforcing species-specific trade restrictions, and supporting local suppliers to safeguard native pollinators from unintended ecological consequences.