Insect alarm: Education policy fights for the bumblebees of our future!

Insect alarm: Education policy fights for the bumblebees of our future!

On September 3, 2025, Education Minister Sven Teuber and Mainz Mayor Nino Haase visited the biology class at IGS Bretzenheim, thereby setting an example for the important contribution of insects to the environment and food security. The decline in insect populations, particularly pollinators such as wild bees, poses an alarming challenge as around 70% of major food crops rely on their pollination. Studies show that insect pollination is crucial for the reproduction of approximately 88% of plants worldwide, highlighting the role of these small creatures in our food chain. According to NABU, over 50% of the 560 wild bee species identified in Germany are endangered, which must be understood as a warning signal ( NABU ).

The “Help bumblebees!” project, which was launched by the Didactics of Biology group at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, aims to convey the importance of wild bees and insects in school lessons. Education Minister Teuber emphasized the need to promote MINT subjects and to raise students' awareness of environmental and nature conservation. Innovative teaching materials enable interactive learning, with around 400 boxes of materials being distributed to schools throughout Rhineland-Palatinate at the beginning of the year. These boxes contain workbooks and suggestions for making school grounds insect-friendly and also offer materials for digital support. The IGS Bretzenheim not only received a set of materials, but also one of a total of 100 wild bee nesting aids to give the students insights into the life cycle of wild bees ( uni-mainz.de ).

Practical learning projects and financial support

As part of the project, students carry out their own observations and design their school grounds to be insect-friendly. Teuber and Haase emphasized that the responsibility for preserving biodiversity also lies with young people. Financial support for the “Help bumblebees!” project from the Ministry of Education amounts to around 30,000 euros. Originally launched as "Bumblebees help! Rhine-Main", it was funded with a total of 345,000 euros by the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Climate Protection, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety. Practical training for teachers is an essential component to inspire and motivate the next generation of scientists ( uni-mainz.de ).

Another aspect that the project addresses are the natural enemies of bumblebees, such as the bumblebee wax moth (Aphomia sociella). These nocturnal butterflies are dangerous to bumblebee populations because they lay their eggs near bumblebee nests. The caterpillars that hatch from them can cause significant damage to the bumblebee larvae and honeycombs. Although wax moths are not able to completely eradicate bumblebees, they still pose a serious threat. Preventative measures against wax moth infestations are crucial to protecting bumblebees and their nests ( wildbienen.de ).

conclusion

The “Help Bumblebees!” initiative highlights the need to promote awareness of the role of insects, particularly wild bees, in our ecosystems. The distribution of educational materials, practical learning in schools and the emphasis on ecological principles show how education and environmental protection are linked. Given the alarming declines in pollinators worldwide, it remains essential to both raise awareness and take action to protect this fundamental part of our environment.