Concerning Surge in Endangered Non-Managed Bee Species Across European Nations

The total of native bee types in European nations experiencing extinction has more than doubled in the last ten years, while the total of threatened butterfly types has almost doubled.

This dire scenario for vital pollinating insects was unveiled by scientific studies for the red list of threatened species, which established that at least one hundred seventy-two bee varieties out of 1,928 were threatened with extinction in Europe.

The total of butterflies at risk of extinction in the European continent has grown from over thirty-five to 65 since the previous assessment, conducted over a decade past. One species, the Madeiran large white (Pieris wollastoni) has now been classified as extinct.

In addition to their beauty and cultural value, pollinating species like bees and butterflies are lifelines for our physical condition, our food systems and our economic systems – sustaining the fruits, vegetables and seeds that nourish us,” commented the IUCN director general. “The newest assessments of the European red list reveal significant difficulties, with dangers growing for butterfly types and vital native bee varieties.”

The reasons of the swift recent drops are the continuing destruction or damage of living environments caused by farming intensification and deserted farmland, draining of wetlands, excessive grazing by animals, and the utilization of pesticides and fertilisers including neonicotinoid chemicals. The fragmentation of environments suitable for pollinators significantly raises the risk of extinctions at local level.

Global heating is also demonstrated to be a primary risk: 52% of all endangered butterflies in the European continent are endangered by the climate change crisis – approximately twice as many as a previous decade.

As many as nine out of ten of plants that flower in European nations require animal pollination, according to the wild bee assessment’s lead coordinator. “Regrettably, wild bee colonies are in sharp decrease and cannot be easily replaced by domesticated hives,” he said. “If wild bees die out, many native plants might be at risk too – of which meadows rich in flowers and lovely orchid types are just a few examples.”

15 varieties of bumblebees, which perform a vital function in fertilizing crops such as peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and 14 species of cellophane bee types, famous for aiding tree pollination such as willow trees and red maples, are now listed as threatened. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee species unique to the European continent and the only species of this genus in the European continent, is now assessed as critically at risk – the research category nearest to extinction in the wild.

Butterfly species that are only found on mountain tops are especially at risk to global warming as they need to move uphill as their living spaces become more heated but ultimately exhaust available space. In southern Spain, the grayling of Nevada and the Andalusian anomalous blue are among more than 40% of European endemics (solely present in Europe) at risk of extinction.

In the Mediterranean region, varieties such as the highly at-risk Karpathos grayling butterfly are threatened by intense dry conditions and fires.

In the meantime, in the Far North, global heating is resulting in the forest boundary to advance northwards by many meters each year, with bushes invading wetlands and tundra. Higher temperatures also mean reindeer can no longer cross the frozen water to feed on northern grasslands and maintain them clear. Eight types of butterflies are at risk of extinction in this area, including Freyja’s fritillary and the Arctic ringlet butterfly.

“The greatest living space for all these pollinators is flower-rich grassland and that is disappearing very fast throughout the European continent because of all these factors,” said Martin Warren. “The good news is that so many individuals are concerned now and there’s a lot more awareness. Under the EU nature restoration legislation, all member states have to reverse the decrease in pollinators by the year 2030, and they are going to have to begin taking action. There are landowners who are involved. It is hoped they can receive the encouragements that will assist them on their way.”

According to the coordinator, there is “easy opportunities” in terms of steps for pollinating species which will not lower food production – and may enhance it – such as farmers creating margins rich in flowers around their fields.

EU commissioner for environment, portrayed the protection status of native bees, butterflies and additional pollinators as “critical”.

“Immediate and joint measures is required to tackle this risk. Along with member countries, the EU Commission has established an Europe-wide observation system for pollinating insects based on the EU nature restoration law, which will assist in monitoring our advancement. Now, we need to prioritize execution and partnership with member countries to preserve our pollinators,” she said.

The release of the bee and butterfly assessments follows the pioneering EU-wide evaluation of hoverflies, another essential group of pollinators. Released in 2022, it revealed that 37% of all hoverfly varieties in European nations were threatened with extinction.