Alarming Rise in Threatened Native Bee Types In European Nations

The number of wild bee varieties in Europe facing dying out has more than doubled in the last ten years, while the number of threatened butterfly has almost doubled.

This pressing issue for vital pollinators was revealed by scientific assessments for the red list of threatened species, which established that at least one hundred seventy-two bee types out of over 1900 were facing extinction in the European continent.

The number of butterflies facing extinction in Europe has increased from over thirty-five to sixty-five since the earlier research, performed a decade and a half ago. One species, the Madeiran large white (Pieris wollastoni) has now been classified as extinct.

Apart from their visual charm and cultural value, pollinators like bees and butterfly species are lifelines for our well-being, our food supplies and our economies – maintaining the fruits, vegetables and seeds that sustain us,” said the IUCN’s director general. “The latest European red list assessments reveal significant difficulties, with dangers mounting for butterflies and essential non-managed bee species.”

The causes of the swift recent drops are the ongoing destruction or damage of habitats caused by farming intensification and deserted farmland, draining of wetlands, excessive grazing by animals, and the use of fertilisers and pesticides including neonicotinoid pesticides. The fragmentation of habitat friendly to pollinators substantially boosts the threat of disappearances in specific areas.

Global warming is also demonstrated to be a primary risk: 52% of all threatened butterfly species in Europe are endangered by the climate crisis – about twofold the amount as a previous decade.

Nearly 90% of plants that flower in European nations require pollination by animals, according to the wild bee assessment’s lead coordinator. “Sadly, non-managed bee groups are in severe drop and cannot be easily replaced by managed colonies,” he said. “If wild bees die out, many wild plants might be in danger as well – of which meadows rich in flowers and attractive orchid varieties are just a couple of instances.”

Fifteen species of bumblebee types, which have an essential part in pollinating peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and 14 species of cellophane bees, known for pollinating trees such as willows and red maples, are now listed as threatened. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee type exclusive to the continent and the only species of this genus in Europe, is now classified as critically at risk – the research category nearest to extinction in the wild.

Butterfly types that are only found on mountain tops are especially at risk to global warming as they need to move uphill as their habitats become more heated but ultimately run out of space. In southern Spain, the Nevada grayling and the Andalusian anomalous blue butterfly are among over forty percent of types unique to Europe (solely present in Europe) threatened with extinction.

In the Mediterranean region, varieties such as the critically endangered grayling of Karpathos are imperilled by severe wildfires and drought.

Meanwhile, in the Arctic region, global heating is leading to the tree line to advance northwards by dozens of meters each year, with bushes encroaching on bog and tundra. Higher temperatures also mean Arctic deer can no more cross the frozen water to feed on Arctic meadows and maintain them clear. Eight types of butterflies are at risk of extinction in this zone, including Freyja’s fritillary butterfly and the ringlet of the Arctic.

“The biggest habitat for all these pollinators is flower-rich grassland and that is declining quickly across European nations because of all these elements,” remarked a lead coordinator for the butterfly assessment. “The encouraging aspect is that so many people are aware now and there’s a lot more consciousness. Under the EU nature restoration legislation, all member countries have to turn around the decrease in pollinating insects by the year 2030, and they are going to have to begin taking action. There are land holders who are engaged. We hope they can get the encouragements that will support them on their way.”

According to Martin Warren, there is “low-hanging fruit” in terms of steps for pollinating species which won’t reduce agricultural output – and might boost it – such as growers developing flower-rich margins around their fields.

EU commissioner for environment, portrayed the preservation condition of non-managed bees, butterfly species and other pollinating insects as “critical”.

“Prompt and unified steps is necessary to address this threat. Along with member states, the EU Commission has put in place an European Union-wide monitoring system for pollinators based on the EU nature restoration regulation, which will assist in monitoring our advancement. Now, we need to concentrate on implementation and partnership with member countries to protect our pollinating insects,” she said.

The issuance of the bee and butterfly assessments follows the first Europe-wide study on hoverflies, a further essential pollinator group. Published in 2022, it disclosed that over one-third of all hoverfly types in Europe were threatened with extinction.