Concerning Increase in Threatened Native Bee Types Across the European Continent

The count of non-managed bee varieties in Europe experiencing extinction has increased twofold over the past decade, and the number of at-risk butterfly has nearly doubled.

This critical situation for essential pollinators was unveiled by scientific assessments for the IUCN red list, which determined that at least over 170 bee types out of nearly two thousand were threatened with extinction in the European continent.

The count of butterfly types threatened with extinction in the European continent has grown from thirty-seven to over sixty since the previous assessment, conducted over a decade past. A single species, the large white of Madeira (Pieris wollastoni) has now been declared extinct.

Apart from their visual charm and cultural significance, pollinating insects like bees along with butterflies are crucial elements for our well-being, our food chains and our financial structures – sustaining the fruits, vegetables and seeds that sustain us,” commented Grethel Aguilar. “The latest assessments of the European red list reveal significant difficulties, with threats increasing for butterflies and crucial wild bee types.”

The factors of the quick recent decreases are the persistent harm or degradation of living environments caused by agricultural intensification and abandoned land, draining wetlands, excessive grazing by animals, and the application of chemical fertilisers and pesticides including neonicotinoid pesticides. The fragmentation of environments suitable for pollinators greatly increases the risk of local extinctions.

Climate change is also shown to be a primary risk: Over half of all threatened butterfly types in European nations are endangered by the climate change crisis – roughly double the number as a decade ago.

As many as ninety percent of plants that flower in European nations depend on animal pollination, as per Dr Denis Michez. “Regrettably, wild bee populations are in severe drop and cannot be easily replaced by managed bee colonies,” he said. “If native bees disappear, many native plants might be at risk too – of which bloom-filled grasslands and lovely orchid types are just a handful of illustrations.”

15 varieties of bumblebees, which have an essential part in pollinating peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and fourteen varieties of cellophane bees, known for pollinating trees such as willows along with red maples, are now listed as threatened. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee type unique to the European continent and the sole species of this genus in European nations, is now assessed as critically endangered – the research category closest to extinction in the wild.

Butterflies that are exclusively located on high-altitude areas are particularly vulnerable to climate change as they must ascend higher as their habitats become more heated but ultimately run out of space. In the southern part of Spain, the Nevada grayling butterfly and the anomalous blue of Andalusia are among more than 40% of European endemics (exclusive to Europe) threatened with extinction.

In the Mediterranean, species such as the highly at-risk Karpathos grayling are threatened by severe wildfires and drought.

Meanwhile, in the Arctic region, global heating is causing the timberline to shift northward by tens of metres each year, with underbrush encroaching on bog and tundra. Warmer conditions also mean Arctic deer can not anymore cross the ice sheets to browse Arctic meadows and maintain them clear. Eight types of butterflies are at risk of extinction in this zone, including Freyja’s fritillary and the Arctic ringlet butterfly.

“The greatest environment for all these pollinators is bloom-filled grassy areas and that is disappearing very fast throughout European nations because of all these factors,” stated Martin Warren. “The encouraging aspect is that so many people are concerned now and there’s a lot more understanding. Under the EU’s nature restoration regulation, all member countries have to halt the drop in pollinators by 2030, and they are going to have to begin taking action. There are landowners who are engaged. We hope they can obtain the motivations that will help them on their way.”

As stated by the coordinator, there is “easy opportunities” in terms of action for pollinating species which will not decrease agricultural output – and may enhance it – such as farmers establishing margins rich in flowers around their fields.

EU commissioner for environment, characterized the conservation status of non-managed bees, butterfly species and other pollinating insects as “critical”.

“Prompt and unified steps is required to confront this threat. Together with member states, the EU Commission has implemented an European Union-wide tracking system for pollinators based on the EU nature restoration law, which will help to track our development. Now, we need to focus on application and partnership with participating nations to safeguard our pollinating insects,” she said.

The release of the bee and butterfly assessments is subsequent to the pioneering European-wide study on hoverflies, an additional vital pollinator group. Issued in 2022, it showed that over one-third of all hoverfly varieties in Europe were at risk of extinction.