Worrying Increase in Endangered Native Bee Types Across Europe

The total of native bee species in the European continent facing disappearance has increased twofold during the previous ten-year period, and the total of at-risk butterfly has almost doubled.

This dire scenario for vital pollinating insects was disclosed by research studies for the IUCN red list, which determined that at least over 170 bee species out of nearly two thousand were threatened with extinction in Europe.

The number of butterfly species threatened with extinction in the European continent has grown from over thirty-five to 65 since the earlier research, conducted a decade and a half ago. A single species, the large white of Madeira (Pieris wollastoni) has now been declared extinct.

“Beyond their visual charm and cultural value, pollinating insects like bees and butterfly species are essential supports for our health, our food supplies and our financial structures – sustaining the fruits, veggies and seeds that sustain us,” said Grethel Aguilar. “The latest European red list assessments reveal serious challenges, with threats increasing for butterflies and essential non-managed bee species.”

The reasons of the rapid recent declines are the persistent harm or degradation of habitats caused by farming intensification and deserted farmland, draining wetlands, livestock overgrazing, and the application of fertilisers and pesticides including neonicotinoid chemicals. The division of environments suitable for pollinators substantially boosts the danger of disappearances in specific areas.

Global warming is also shown to be a major threat: Fifty-two percent of all threatened butterfly types in the European continent are endangered by the climate change crisis – approximately twice as many as a ten years ago.

As many as 90% of blooming plants in European nations depend on insect pollination, as per the lead coordinator of the wild bee assessment. “Unfortunately, wild bee populations are in severe drop and cannot readily be substituted by managed bee colonies,” he said. “If wild bees die out, many native plants might be in danger as well – of which flower-rich meadows and attractive orchid varieties are just a couple of instances.”

15 varieties of bumblebee species, which perform a vital function in fertilizing peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and fourteen varieties of cellophane bee species, famous for pollinating trees such as willow trees and red maples, are now categorized as at-risk. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee type exclusive to the European continent and the single type of this genus group in Europe, is now classified as severely threatened – the scientific category closest to dying out in natural habitats.

Butterfly species that are exclusively located on high-altitude areas are highly susceptible to climate change as they need to move uphill as their living spaces become more heated but in the end exhaust available space. In southern Spain, the Nevada grayling and the Andalusian anomalous blue butterfly are among above 40 percent of types unique to Europe (solely present in Europe) at risk of extinction.

In the Mediterranean area, varieties such as the critically endangered grayling of Karpathos are imperilled by intense wildfires and drought.

In the meantime, in the Arctic region, climate change is leading to the forest boundary to shift northward by dozens of meters each year, with bushes taking over bog and tundra. Hotter climates also mean caribou can no more cross the ice to browse northern grasslands and prevent them from overgrowing. 8 butterfly varieties are threatened with extinction in this zone, including Freyja’s fritillary and the Arctic ringlet.

“The greatest living space for all these pollinating species is flower-rich grassland and that is vanishing rapidly throughout European nations because of all these elements,” stated Martin Warren. “The encouraging aspect is that so many citizens care now and there’s a lot more consciousness. Under the EU nature restoration legislation, all member countries have to reverse the decrease in pollinating insects by 2030, and they are going to have to start doing something. There are land holders who are engaged. We hope they can obtain the motivations that will support them on their way.”

As stated by Martin Warren, there is “easy opportunities” in terms of measures for pollinating species which won’t reduce food production – and might boost it – such as agricultural producers creating margins rich in flowers around their cultivated areas.

Jessika Roswall, described the protection status of native bees, butterflies and additional pollinators as “critical”.

“Urgent and collective action is required to confront this threat. Along with participating nations, the Commission of the European Union has implemented an European Union-wide observation system for pollinating species based on the EU nature restoration law, which will help to track our progress. Now, we need to focus on execution and partnership with participating nations to safeguard our pollinators,” she said.

The publication of the evaluations of bees along with butterflies comes after the initial EU-wide assessment of hoverflies, a further crucial pollinating insect category. Released in 2022, it disclosed that thirty-seven percent of all hoverfly species in the European continent were at risk of extinction.