Concerning Rise in Endangered Non-Managed Bee Types Throughout Europe

The total of native bee varieties in the European continent experiencing disappearance has more than doubled in the last ten years, while the count of at-risk butterfly has nearly doubled.

This critical situation for vital pollinators was unveiled by research studies for the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) red list, which determined that at least 172 bee species out of 1,928 were threatened with extinction in the European continent.

The total of butterflies at risk of extinction in European nations has grown from thirty-seven to sixty-five since the last study, performed 14 years ago. A single species, the Madeiran large white butterfly (Pieris wollastoni) has now been classified as extinct.

“Beyond their aesthetic appeal and cultural significance, pollinators like bees and butterfly species are essential supports for our health, our food supplies and our economies – sustaining the fruits, vegetables and seeds that sustain us,” commented Grethel Aguilar. “The most recent assessments of the European red list reveal serious challenges, with dangers mounting for butterflies and essential native bee varieties.”

The causes of the swift recent drops are the persistent destruction or damage of habitats caused by agricultural intensification and abandoned land, draining of wetlands, excessive grazing by animals, and the utilization of fertilisers and pesticides including neonicotinoid pesticides. The fragmentation of habitat friendly to pollinators greatly increases the risk of extinctions at local level.

Climate change is also shown to be a major threat: Over half of all threatened butterflies in Europe are endangered by the climate crisis – approximately double the number as a ten years ago.

Up to 90% of flowering plants in European nations require animal pollination, as per the lead coordinator of the wild bee assessment. “Sadly, wild bee groups are in severe drop and are not easily replaceable by managed bee colonies,” he said. “If non-managed bees die out, many wild plants might be in danger as well – of which bloom-filled grasslands and beautiful orchid species are just a few examples.”

15 varieties of bumblebee types, which have an essential part in fertilizing legumes like peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and fourteen varieties of cellophane bee species, recognized for pollinating trees such as willows and red maples, are now listed as threatened. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee species exclusive to the European continent and the single type of this biological genus in the European continent, is now evaluated as severely threatened – the scientific classification closest to disappearance in the wild.

Butterfly species that are only found on mountain tops are highly susceptible to global heating as they need to move uphill as their habitats become hotter but in the end exhaust available space. In the southern part of Spain, the Nevada grayling butterfly and the Andalusian anomalous blue butterfly are among over forty percent of species endemic to Europe (exclusive to Europe) threatened with extinction.

In the Mediterranean area, varieties such as the severely threatened Karpathos grayling butterfly are endangered by severe wildfires and drought.

In the meantime, in the Arctic region, global warming is causing the tree line to shift northward by many meters each year, with underbrush taking over bog and tundra. Hotter climates also mean caribou can no longer cross the ice to browse Arctic grasslands and keep them open. 8 butterfly varieties are at risk of extinction in this zone, including Freyja’s fritillary butterfly and the Arctic ringlet butterfly.

“The largest environment for all these pollinating species is bloom-filled grassy areas and that is declining quickly in Europe because of all these elements,” remarked one of the lead coordinators of the butterflies assessment. “The positive thing is that so many people are concerned now and there’s a lot more understanding. Under the EU nature restoration legislation, all member states have to reverse the decrease 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 obtain the encouragements that will support them on their way.”

As stated by Warren, there is “easy opportunities” in terms of measures for pollinating insects which will not lower food production – and may enhance it – such as farmers creating bloom-filled edges around their cultivated areas.

Jessika Roswall, described the preservation condition of native bees, butterflies and additional pollinators as “dire”.

“Urgent and collective action is needed to confront this threat. Together with participating nations, the European Commission has implemented an European Union-wide monitoring system for pollinators based on the European Union nature restoration legislation, which will assist in monitoring our advancement. Now, we need to prioritize execution and partnership with participating nations to protect our pollinators,” she said.

The publication of the evaluations of bees along with butterflies comes after the pioneering EU-wide evaluation of hoverflies, a further vital pollinator group. Released in 2022, it disclosed that over one-third of all hoverfly varieties in Europe were threatened with extinction.