Concerning Increase in Threatened Native Bee Species In Europe

The count of wild bee species in the European continent experiencing extinction has increased twofold in the last ten years, and the total of endangered butterfly has nearly doubled.

This pressing issue for vital pollinating insects was unveiled by research studies for the red list of threatened species, which determined that at least 172 bee varieties out of over 1900 were facing extinction in Europe.

The count of butterflies facing extinction in European nations has increased from over thirty-five to over sixty since the earlier research, performed 14 years ago. A single species, the large white of Madeira (Pieris wollastoni) has now been declared extinct.

In addition to their aesthetic appeal and cultural significance, pollinating insects like bees and butterfly species are crucial elements for our well-being, our food chains and our economic systems – maintaining the fruits, veggies and seeds that sustain us,” commented the IUCN’s director general. “The newest European red list assessments reveal serious challenges, with threats mounting for butterfly species and essential native bee varieties.”

The factors of the rapid recent declines are the persistent harm or degradation of natural habitats caused by intensive agriculture and abandoned land, draining of wetlands, livestock overgrazing, and the application of pesticides and fertilisers including neonicotinoid pesticides. The breaking up of habitat friendly to pollinators greatly increases the risk of disappearances in specific areas.

Global warming is also revealed to be a primary risk: Fifty-two percent of all endangered butterfly species in Europe are imperilled by the climate crisis – roughly twofold the amount as a previous decade.

As many as nine out of ten of flowering plants in the European continent rely on insect pollination, as stated by the lead coordinator of the wild bee assessment. “Regrettably, non-managed bee populations are in sharp decrease and are not easily replaceable by managed colonies,” he said. “If native bees vanish, many native plants might be threatened too – of which bloom-filled grasslands and beautiful orchid species are just a couple of instances.”

15 varieties of bumblebee types, which have an essential part in fertilizing peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and 14 types of cellophane bees, known for fertilizing trees such as willows along with red maples, are now listed as threatened. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee species found only in the European continent and the sole species of this genus group in the European continent, is now classified as critically endangered – the scientific category nearest to extinction in the wild.

Butterflies that are only found on mountain tops are particularly vulnerable to climate change as they have to climb upward as their habitats become more heated but in the end run out of space. In the southern part of Spain, the Nevada grayling and the anomalous blue of Andalusia are among above 40 percent of European endemics (exclusive to Europe) at risk of extinction.

In the Mediterranean, varieties such as the severely threatened Karpathos grayling butterfly are endangered by intense dry conditions and fires.

At the same time, in the Far North, climate change is leading to the tree line to advance northwards by tens of metres each year, with scrub taking over wetlands and tundra. Higher temperatures also mean Arctic deer can no more cross the frozen water to browse Arctic meadows and keep them open. Eight types of butterflies are threatened with extinction in this zone, including the fritillary of Freyja and the Arctic ringlet butterfly.

“The biggest habitat for all these pollinators is bloom-filled grassy areas and that is declining quickly in Europe because of all these reasons,” stated a lead coordinator for the butterfly assessment. “The encouraging aspect is that so many individuals are concerned now and there’s a lot more consciousness. Under the European Union nature restoration law, all participating nations have to reverse the decrease in pollinators by twenty-thirty, and they are going to have to begin taking action. There are landowners who are interested. We hope they can obtain the incentives that will help them on their way.”

As per Martin Warren, there is “low-hanging fruit” in terms of steps for pollinators which will not decrease food production – and could improve it – such as agricultural producers creating flower-rich margins around their fields.

EU commissioner for environment, characterized the conservation status of native bees, butterflies and additional pollinators as “severe”.

“Immediate and joint measures is required to address this risk. In collaboration with member states, the Commission of the European Union has implemented an European Union-wide tracking system for pollinating species based on the European Union nature restoration legislation, which will assist in monitoring our progress. Now, we need to concentrate on application and partnership with member countries to preserve our pollinators,” she said.

The publication of the bee and butterfly assessments comes after the initial Europe-wide assessment of hoverflies, a further crucial group of pollinators. Released in 2022, it revealed that thirty-seven percent of all hoverfly types in European nations were threatened with extinction.