Alarming Increase in Endangered Non-Managed Bee Types Across Europe

The number of native bee types in the European continent confronting dying out has over doubled during the previous ten-year period, and the count of endangered butterfly has close to doubled.

This pressing issue for vital pollinating species was revealed by scientific assessments for the red list of threatened species, which determined that at least 172 bee types out of 1,928 were threatened with extinction in European nations.

The number of butterfly types threatened with extinction in European nations 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.

Apart from their aesthetic appeal and cultural significance, pollinators like bees and butterfly species are essential supports for our well-being, our food systems and our economic systems – supporting the produce, vegetables and seeds that nourish us,” commented the IUCN director general. “The latest European red list assessments reveal serious challenges, with dangers increasing for butterfly types and vital wild bee types.”

The reasons of the quick recent decreases are the continuing destruction or damage of natural habitats caused by agricultural intensification and abandoned land, wetland drainage, excessive grazing by animals, and the use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides including neonicotinoid chemicals. The division of environments suitable for pollinators greatly increases the danger of extinctions at local level.

Climate change is also revealed to be a major threat: Fifty-two percent of all at-risk butterfly types in Europe are imperilled by the climate change crisis – roughly twofold the amount as a decade ago.

Up to ninety percent of plants that flower in the European continent require pollination by animals, as stated by the wild bee assessment’s lead coordinator. “Regrettably, wild bee colonies are in drastic decline and cannot be easily replaced by managed colonies,” he said. “If wild bees disappear, many non-cultivated plants might be in danger as well – of which bloom-filled grasslands and lovely orchid types are just a couple of instances.”

Fifteen species of bumblebee species, which play a crucial role in fertilizing legumes like peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and fourteen varieties of cellophane bee species, famous for aiding tree pollination such as willows along with 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 group in the European continent, is now classified as critically at risk – the scientific classification most akin to extinction in the wild.

Butterflies that are exclusively located on mountain peaks are particularly vulnerable to climate change as they must ascend higher as their living spaces become more heated but eventually exhaust available space. In Spain’s southern region, the Nevada grayling butterfly and the Andalusian anomalous blue butterfly are among over forty percent of species endemic to Europe (solely present in Europe) threatened with extinction.

In the Mediterranean, varieties such as the highly at-risk Karpathos grayling are endangered by intense wildfires and drought.

In the meantime, in the Far North, climate change is leading to the forest boundary to advance northwards by dozens of meters each year, with bushes encroaching on bog and tundra. Warmer conditions also mean caribou can no longer cross the ice to browse northern grasslands and prevent them from overgrowing. Eight butterfly species are threatened with extinction in this region, including Freyja’s fritillary and the ringlet of the Arctic.

“The greatest environment for all these pollinating insects is flower-rich grassland and that is disappearing very fast in the European continent because of all these elements,” remarked Martin Warren. “The positive thing is that so many people care now and there’s a lot more consciousness. Under the EU nature restoration legislation, all member states have to halt the decline in pollinating species by 2030, and they are going to have to initiate measures. There are property owners who are involved. It is hoped they can get the motivations that will assist them on their way.”

As per 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 growers establishing margins rich in flowers around their farmland.

Jessika Roswall, characterized the preservation condition of non-managed bees, butterfly species and other pollinating insects as “dire”.

“Urgent and collective action is needed to tackle this danger. Together with member countries, the European Commission has put in place an Europe-wide observation system for pollinating insects based on the European Union nature restoration legislation, which will help to track our progress. Now, we need to focus on execution and collaboration with participating nations to protect our pollinating species,” she said.

The publication of the assessments on bees and butterflies follows the initial EU-wide study on hoverflies, a further crucial group of pollinators. Issued in twenty-twenty-two, it showed that over one-third of all hoverfly types in Europe were threatened with extinction.