Alarming Rise in Threatened Wild Bee Varieties Throughout European Nations

The count of native bee varieties in the European continent confronting disappearance has more than doubled in the last ten years, and the number of at-risk butterfly types has almost doubled.

This dire scenario for crucial pollinating insects was revealed by research studies for the IUCN red list, which established that at least 172 bee species out of over 1900 were threatened with extinction in the European continent.

The count of butterfly species at risk of extinction in the European continent has grown from 37 to 65 since the last study, performed over a decade past. One species, the Madeiran large white (Pieris wollastoni) has now been classified as extinct.

“Beyond their visual charm and cultural value, pollinating insects like bees and butterflies are crucial elements for our well-being, our food systems and our economies – sustaining the fruits, vegetables and seeds that sustain us,” stated the IUCN director general. “The newest European red list evaluations reveal major obstacles, with dangers increasing for butterfly species and essential native bee varieties.”

The factors of the rapid recent declines are the continuing harm or degradation of natural habitats caused by agricultural intensification and deserted farmland, wetland drainage, overgrazing by livestock, and the utilization of pesticides and fertilisers including neonicotinoid chemicals. The division of environments suitable for pollinators greatly increases the threat of extinctions at local level.

Global heating is also revealed to be a significant danger: Over half of all threatened butterfly types in the European continent are imperilled by the climate emergency – roughly twofold the amount as a previous decade.

Up to ninety percent of flowering plants in Europe depend on animal pollination, as per Dr Denis Michez. “Regrettably, non-managed bee populations are in sharp decrease and are not easily replaceable by managed colonies,” he said. “If non-managed bees die out, many native plants might be in danger as well – of which meadows rich in flowers and beautiful orchid species are just a few examples.”

Fifteen types of bumblebee types, which perform a vital function in pollinating peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and 14 species of cellophane bee types, known for pollinating trees such as willows and red maples, are now classified as threatened. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee species exclusive to the continent and the sole species of this genus in Europe, is now evaluated as critically at risk – the research category most akin to disappearance in the wild.

Butterfly types that are exclusively located on mountain tops are especially at risk to climate change as they have to climb upward as their habitats become warmer but ultimately exhaust available space. In southern Spain, the grayling of Nevada and the Andalusian anomalous blue are among over forty percent of species endemic to Europe (exclusive to Europe) threatened with extinction.

In the Mediterranean area, species such as the critically endangered Karpathos grayling butterfly are threatened by severe wildfires and drought.

In the meantime, in the Arctic Circle, global heating is causing the tree line to shift northward by tens of metres each year, with scrub invading marsh and tundra. Warmer conditions also mean reindeer can no more cross the ice to feed on Arctic meadows and keep them open. Eight types of butterflies are at risk of extinction in this zone, including Freyja’s fritillary and the Arctic ringlet.

“The biggest habitat for all these pollinators is grassland rich in flowers and that is disappearing very fast across the European continent because of all these factors,” remarked Martin Warren. “The positive thing is that so many people are aware now and there’s a lot more consciousness. Under the EU nature restoration legislation, all member states have to halt the decrease in pollinating insects by the year 2030, and they are going to have to initiate measures. There are land holders who are involved. Let’s hope they can obtain the incentives that will support them on their way.”

According to Martin Warren, there is “easy opportunities” in terms of steps for pollinating species which will not decrease crop yields – and may enhance it – such as farmers establishing margins rich in flowers around their fields.

the EU’s environment commissioner, characterized the protection status of native bees, butterflies and additional pollinators as “dire”.

“Immediate and joint measures is required to confront this threat. Along with participating nations, the European Commission has put in place an Europe-wide monitoring system for pollinating insects based on the European Union nature restoration legislation, which will help to track our advancement. Now, we need to prioritize execution and cooperation with member countries to preserve our pollinating insects,” she said.

The issuance of the evaluations of bees along with butterflies follows the first EU-wide assessment of hoverflies, an additional vital group of pollinators. Published in twenty-twenty-two, it revealed that over one-third of all hoverfly varieties in the European continent were threatened with extinction.