Worrying Increase in Threatened Native Bee Types Across Europe

The total of wild bee varieties in the European continent experiencing dying out has increased twofold during the previous ten-year period, while the total of at-risk butterfly species has nearly doubled.

This critical situation for crucial pollinating species was unveiled by scientific studies for the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) red list, which found that at least over 170 bee types out of over 1900 were at risk of extinction in European nations.

The number of butterfly types facing extinction in European nations has risen from thirty-seven to over sixty since the earlier research, carried out over a decade past. One species, the large white of Madeira (Pieris wollastoni) has now been classified as extinct.

In addition to their visual charm and cultural significance, pollinating species like bees and butterfly species are lifelines for our physical condition, our food supplies and our economic systems – sustaining the fruits, vegetables and seeds that sustain us,” said the IUCN’s director general. “The newest assessments of the European red list reveal significant difficulties, with dangers mounting for butterfly species and vital native bee species.”

The causes of the quick recent decreases are the ongoing destruction or damage of natural habitats caused by farming intensification and land abandonment, draining wetlands, excessive grazing by animals, and the application of fertilisers and pesticides including neonicotinoid chemicals. The breaking up of habitat friendly to pollinators greatly increases the danger of disappearances in specific areas.

Climate change is also shown to be a primary risk: Fifty-two percent of all at-risk butterfly types in Europe are threatened by the climate crisis – roughly twice as many as a ten years ago.

Nearly 90% of plants that flower in the European continent require insect pollination, according to the wild bee assessment’s lead coordinator. “Regrettably, wild bee colonies are in severe drop and are not easily replaceable by managed colonies,” he said. “If native bees die out, many non-cultivated plants might be at risk too – of which bloom-filled grasslands and beautiful orchid species are just a handful of illustrations.”

Fifteen types of bumblebee species, which play a crucial role in fertilizing legumes like peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and 14 species of cellophane bee species, famous for fertilizing trees such as willows along with red maples, are now listed as threatened. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee exclusive to the continent and the single type of this genus group in Europe, is now assessed as critically at risk – the scientific classification most akin to disappearance in the wild.

Butterfly species that are solely present on mountain peaks are highly susceptible to climate change as they have to climb upward as their living spaces become more heated but ultimately exhaust available space. In Spain’s southern region, the Nevada grayling and the Andalusian anomalous blue are among over forty percent of species endemic to Europe (solely present in Europe) threatened with extinction.

In the Mediterranean, species such as the severely threatened Karpathos grayling are threatened by extreme drought and wildfires.

Meanwhile, in the Arctic region, climate change is leading to the forest boundary to shift northward by dozens of meters each year, with underbrush taking over bog and tundra. Hotter climates also mean reindeer can no more cross the ice sheets to browse Arctic grasslands and prevent them from overgrowing. Eight types of butterflies are facing extinction in this area, including Freyja’s fritillary and the Arctic ringlet.

“The greatest environment for all these pollinators is grassland rich in flowers and that is declining quickly in Europe because of all these reasons,” stated Martin Warren. “The good news is that so many individuals are concerned now and there’s a lot more understanding. Under the EU nature restoration legislation, all member countries have to halt the decline in pollinating species by the year 2030, and they are going to have to begin taking action. There are property owners who are involved. We hope they can obtain the motivations that will help them on their way.”

As per Martin Warren, there is “low-hanging fruit” in terms of action for pollinating species which won’t reduce food production – and could improve it – such as growers creating bloom-filled edges around their fields.

EU commissioner for environment, characterized the protection status of wild bees, butterflies and other pollinators as “dire”.

“Immediate and joint measures is required to confront this threat. Together with participating nations, the Commission of the European Union has established an Europe-wide monitoring system for pollinating insects based on the European Union nature restoration legislation, which will help to track our advancement. Now, we need to focus on execution and partnership with member countries to preserve our pollinating insects,” she said.

The release of the bee and butterfly assessments comes after the pioneering EU-wide evaluation of hoverflies, a further crucial pollinator group. Issued in twenty-twenty-two, it showed that 37% of all hoverfly types in Europe were facing extinction.