Alarming Surge in At-Risk Native Bee Types Across the European Continent

The count of non-managed bee varieties in European nations facing disappearance has over doubled over the past decade, whereas the number of threatened butterfly has nearly doubled.

This pressing issue for vital pollinating species was revealed by scientific studies for the IUCN red list, which established that at least 172 bee varieties out of over 1900 were at risk of extinction in Europe.

The total of butterfly types threatened with extinction in European nations has risen from thirty-seven to 65 since the earlier research, conducted over a decade past. One species, the Madeiran large white (Pieris wollastoni) has now been classified as extinct.

“Beyond their visual charm and cultural importance, pollinating species like bees along with butterflies are lifelines for our well-being, our food systems and our economic systems – sustaining the produce, vegetables and seeds that feed us,” said the IUCN’s director general. “The most recent European red list assessments reveal serious challenges, with risks growing for butterfly species and crucial wild bee varieties.”

The causes of the quick recent decreases are the continuing harm or degradation of living environments caused by intensive agriculture and abandoned land, draining of wetlands, excessive grazing by animals, and the application of chemical fertilisers and pesticides including neonicotinoid pesticides. The division of habitat friendly to pollinators substantially boosts the danger of local extinctions.

Global heating is also demonstrated to be a significant danger: Fifty-two percent of all threatened butterfly types in European nations are endangered by the climate crisis – about twofold the amount as a decade ago.

Nearly nine out of ten of plants that flower in the European continent require pollination by animals, as stated by the wild bee assessment’s lead coordinator. “Sadly, wild bee colonies are in sharp decrease and cannot be easily replaced by managed bee colonies,” he said. “If non-managed bees disappear, many non-cultivated plants might be threatened too – of which flower-rich meadows and attractive orchid varieties are just a couple of instances.”

Fifteen species of bumblebee types, which perform a vital function in pollinating peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and 14 types of cellophane bees, known for pollinating trees such as willows along with red maples, are now categorized as at-risk. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee type unique to the European continent and the single type of this genus group in European nations, is now assessed as severely threatened – the scientific classification most akin to extinction in the wild.

Butterflies that are only found on high-altitude areas are especially at risk to global heating as they must ascend higher as their habitats become warmer but eventually run out of space. In southern Spain, the grayling of Nevada and the Andalusian anomalous blue are among more than 40% of species endemic to Europe (exclusive to Europe) facing extinction.

In the Mediterranean region, varieties such as the critically endangered Karpathos grayling butterfly are threatened by severe dry conditions and fires.

In the meantime, in the Arctic Circle, global heating is resulting in the timberline to move north by many meters each year, with underbrush invading wetlands and tundra. Warmer conditions also mean Arctic deer can no more cross the frozen water to feed on Arctic grasslands and keep them open. Eight types of butterflies are facing extinction in this zone, including Freyja’s fritillary butterfly and the Arctic ringlet butterfly.

“The largest habitat for all these pollinators is flower-rich grassland and that is vanishing rapidly throughout Europe because of all these elements,” said Martin Warren. “The good news is that so many individuals are concerned now and there’s a lot more awareness. Under the European Union nature restoration law, all member states have to turn around the decline in pollinating species by 2030, and they are going to have to start doing something. There are landowners who are engaged. Let’s hope they can obtain the motivations that will support them on their way.”

According to the coordinator, there is “easy opportunities” in terms of action for pollinating species which will not lower agricultural output – and could improve it – such as growers creating flower-rich margins around their cultivated areas.

EU commissioner for environment, portrayed the conservation status of wild bees, butterflies and other pollinators as “severe”.

“Prompt and unified steps is needed to confront this risk. Together with participating nations, the Commission of the European Union has implemented an Europe-wide tracking system for pollinating species based on the EU nature restoration regulation, which will assist in monitoring our progress. Now, we need to concentrate on application and cooperation with member countries to safeguard our pollinating insects,” she said.

The issuance of the evaluations of bees along with butterflies follows the pioneering Europe-wide evaluation of hoverflies, another crucial pollinator group. Published in 2022, it disclosed that over one-third of all hoverfly types in Europe were threatened with extinction.