Worrying Increase in Threatened Non-Managed Bee Species Across European Nations

The count of native bee species in Europe confronting dying out has increased twofold over the past decade, whereas the total of endangered butterfly species has nearly doubled.

This dire scenario for essential pollinators was revealed by scientific studies for the IUCN red list, which found that at least 172 bee species out of over 1900 were threatened with extinction in Europe.

The count of butterfly species at risk of extinction in the European continent has risen from over thirty-five to sixty-five since the earlier research, conducted 14 years ago. One species, the Madeiran large white butterfly (Pieris wollastoni) has now been declared extinct.

In addition to their beauty and cultural importance, pollinating insects like bees and butterfly species are lifelines for our health, our food systems and our economic systems – maintaining the produce, vegetables and seeds that nourish us,” commented the IUCN’s director general. “The most recent assessments of the European red list reveal significant difficulties, with dangers increasing for butterfly species and crucial native bee types.”

The factors of the quick recent decreases are the continuing harm or degradation of living environments caused by agricultural intensification and abandoned land, draining wetlands, excessive grazing by animals, and the utilization of fertilisers and pesticides including neonicotinoid chemicals. The fragmentation of pollinator-friendly habitat substantially boosts the danger of local extinctions.

Climate change is also shown to be a significant danger: Fifty-two percent of all at-risk butterfly species in Europe are imperilled by the climate crisis – about twice as many as a decade ago.

As many as nine out of ten of flowering plants in European nations rely on insect pollination, according to the lead coordinator of the wild bee assessment. “Unfortunately, native bee colonies are in drastic decline and cannot readily be substituted by domesticated hives,” he said. “If wild bees die out, many wild plants might be threatened too – of which bloom-filled grasslands and attractive orchid varieties are just a handful of illustrations.”

Fifteen types of bumblebees, which perform a vital function in pollinating peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and fourteen varieties of cellophane bees, known for aiding tree pollination such as willows and red maples, are now listed as threatened. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee type exclusive to the European continent and the sole species of this genus in the European continent, is now classified as critically at risk – the scientific category most akin to disappearance in the wild.

Butterfly types that are solely present on mountain tops are particularly vulnerable to global heating as they need to move uphill as their habitats become more heated but eventually run out of space. In the southern part of Spain, the Nevada grayling and the anomalous blue of Andalusia are among more than 40% of types unique to Europe (only found in Europe) facing extinction.

In the Mediterranean region, types such as the highly at-risk grayling of Karpathos are endangered by extreme dry conditions and fires.

At the same time, in the Arctic region, global heating is resulting in the forest boundary to advance northwards by many meters each year, with scrub invading marsh and tundra. Warmer conditions also mean reindeer can no more cross the frozen water to graze northern grasslands and maintain them clear. Eight butterfly species are facing extinction in this area, including the fritillary of Freyja and the Arctic ringlet.

“The biggest habitat for all these pollinating species is grassland rich in flowers and that is vanishing rapidly in Europe because of all these elements,” stated Martin Warren. “The encouraging aspect is that so many individuals care now and there’s a lot more awareness. Under the EU’s nature restoration regulation, all member states have to reverse the decrease in pollinating insects by twenty-thirty, and they are going to have to begin taking action. There are land holders who are interested. It is hoped they can get the incentives that will assist them on their way.”

As per Martin Warren, there is “readily achievable actions” in terms of measures for pollinators which won’t reduce agricultural output – and could improve it – such as farmers developing margins rich in flowers around their farmland.

the EU’s environment commissioner, portrayed the conservation status of non-managed bees, butterfly species and other pollinating insects as “critical”.

“Prompt and unified steps is necessary to confront this risk. Along with member countries, the EU Commission has implemented an EU-wide observation system for pollinating species based on the EU nature restoration regulation, which will aid in following our advancement. Now, we need to concentrate on execution and cooperation with participating nations to safeguard our pollinators,” she said.

The issuance of the evaluations of bees along with butterflies is subsequent to the first European-wide assessment of hoverflies, another vital group of pollinators. Released in 2022, it showed that thirty-seven percent of all hoverfly species in European nations were at risk of extinction.