Bees face new threats from wars, street lights and microplastics, scientists warn

Antibiotics have been found to affect the behaviour of pollinators including reducing their visits to flowers. Photograph: Maureen McLean/Shutterstock

War zones, microplastics and street lights are among the emerging threats to the bee population, according to scientists.

Bee experts have drawn up a list of the 12 most pressing threats to the pollinator over the next decade, published in a report, Emerging Threats and Opportunities for Conservation of Global Pollinators, by the University of Reading.