Concerning Increase in Threatened Native Bee Varieties Across Europe

The number of non-managed bee species in European nations facing extinction has over doubled in the last ten years, whereas the count of endangered butterfly has close to doubled.

This dire scenario for crucial pollinating insects was revealed by research studies for the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) red list, which established that at least 172 bee types out of over 1900 were facing extinction in the European continent.

The total of butterflies at risk of extinction in Europe has risen from thirty-seven to sixty-five since the previous assessment, carried out 14 years ago. One species, the Madeiran large white (Pieris wollastoni) has now been classified as extinct.

Apart from their aesthetic appeal and cultural value, pollinating insects like bees and butterfly species are crucial elements for our well-being, our food systems and our economic systems – maintaining the fruits, veggies and seeds that sustain us,” stated the IUCN’s director general. “The newest European red list evaluations reveal major obstacles, with threats mounting for butterflies and vital non-managed bee types.”

The factors of the rapid recent declines are the continuing harm or degradation of living environments caused by agricultural intensification and deserted farmland, draining of wetlands, overgrazing by livestock, and the application of fertilisers and pesticides including neonicotinoids. The breaking up of habitat friendly to pollinators greatly increases the threat of extinctions at local level.

Climate change is also shown to be a primary risk: Fifty-two percent of all endangered butterflies in Europe are threatened by the climate emergency – about double the number as a previous decade.

Nearly nine out of ten of blooming plants in the European continent rely on insect pollination, as per Dr Denis Michez. “Sadly, wild bee colonies are in sharp decrease and cannot be easily replaced by managed bee colonies,” he said. “If non-managed bees vanish, many non-cultivated plants might be at risk too – of which bloom-filled grasslands and attractive orchid varieties are just a handful of illustrations.”

Fifteen species of bumblebee types, which play a crucial role in fertilizing crops such as peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and 14 species of cellophane bees, famous for fertilizing trees such as willow trees and red maples, are now listed as threatened. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee species exclusive to the mainland and the only species of this biological genus in the European continent, is now evaluated as critically at risk – the research category most akin to dying out in natural habitats.

Butterfly types that are solely present on mountain tops are particularly vulnerable to global heating as they need to move uphill as their environments become hotter but eventually have no room left. In southern Spain, the Nevada grayling and the Andalusian anomalous blue butterfly are among above 40 percent of types unique to Europe (only found in Europe) facing extinction.

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

Meanwhile, in the Arctic region, climate change is leading to the forest boundary to move north by dozens of meters each year, with bushes taking over marsh and tundra. Higher temperatures also mean Arctic deer can no more cross the ice sheets to browse Arctic meadows and maintain them clear. Eight types of butterflies are facing extinction in this region, including Freyja’s fritillary butterfly and the ringlet of the Arctic.

“The largest living space for all these pollinators is grassland rich in flowers and that is disappearing very fast across Europe because of all these elements,” said Martin Warren. “The encouraging aspect is that so many individuals are concerned now and there’s a lot more awareness. Under the EU’s nature restoration regulation, all member states have to turn around the decrease in pollinating insects by 2030, and they are going to have to begin taking action. There are land holders who are engaged. Let’s hope they can get the incentives that will assist them on their way.”

As stated by Martin Warren, there is “low-hanging fruit” in terms of measures for pollinators which won’t reduce agricultural output – and may enhance it – such as agricultural producers developing margins rich in flowers around their farmland.

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

“Prompt and unified steps is needed to tackle this danger. Together with member states, the European Commission has implemented an Europe-wide monitoring system for pollinating species based on the EU nature restoration law, which will aid in following our progress. Now, we need to prioritize application and partnership with participating nations to preserve our pollinating insects,” she said.

The issuance of the bee and butterfly assessments is subsequent to the initial European-wide evaluation of hoverflies, another vital pollinating insect category. Issued in twenty-twenty-two, it revealed that 37% of all hoverfly varieties in the European continent were at risk of extinction.