Worrying Surge in At-Risk Non-Managed Bee Types In European Nations

The count of native bee species in the European continent confronting disappearance has more than doubled in the last ten years, and the count of endangered butterfly has nearly doubled.

This dire scenario for essential pollinating species was unveiled by scientific assessments for the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) red list, which determined that at least 172 bee types out of nearly two thousand were facing extinction in Europe.

The count of butterflies facing extinction in Europe has increased from 37 to 65 since the earlier research, conducted 14 years ago. One type, the Madeiran large white (Pieris wollastoni) has now been classified as extinct.

In addition to their beauty and cultural value, pollinating species like bees and butterfly species are crucial elements for our physical condition, our food supplies and our economic systems – supporting the fruits, vegetables and seeds that sustain us,” commented the IUCN director general. “The newest assessments of the European red list reveal serious challenges, with risks increasing for butterfly types and vital wild bee types.”

The factors of the quick recent decreases are the ongoing destruction or damage of natural habitats caused by agricultural intensification and abandoned land, draining of wetlands, overgrazing by livestock, and the use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides including neonicotinoid chemicals. The breaking up of habitat friendly to pollinators greatly increases the danger of local extinctions.

Global heating is also demonstrated to be a primary risk: Over half of all threatened butterfly species in the European continent are endangered by the climate crisis – approximately twice as many as a previous decade.

Up to ninety percent of flowering plants in Europe depend on pollination by animals, according to the lead coordinator of the wild bee assessment. “Sadly, non-managed bee populations are in sharp decrease and are not easily replaceable by managed colonies,” he said. “If wild bees vanish, many non-cultivated plants might be threatened too – of which flower-rich meadows and attractive orchid varieties are just a few examples.”

Fifteen species of bumblebee species, which perform a vital function in aiding the pollination of peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and 14 types of cellophane bees, famous for aiding tree pollination such as willow trees and red maples, are now categorized as at-risk. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee unique to the mainland and the sole species of this biological genus in European nations, is now evaluated as critically at risk – the research category nearest to extinction in the wild.

Butterfly species that are only found on mountain tops are especially at risk to climate change as they need to move uphill as their living spaces become warmer but ultimately run out of space. In southern Spain, the grayling of Nevada and the Andalusian anomalous blue butterfly are among more than 40% of European endemics (exclusive to Europe) at risk of extinction.

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

At the same time, in the Arctic Circle, global warming is resulting in the forest boundary to shift northward by dozens of meters each year, with bushes encroaching on wetlands and tundra. Hotter climates also mean reindeer can no more cross the ice sheets to browse northern grasslands and prevent them from overgrowing. Eight butterfly species are facing extinction in this zone, including Freyja’s fritillary and the ringlet of the Arctic.

“The greatest living space for all these pollinating species is grassland rich in flowers and that is declining quickly in the European continent because of all these factors,” remarked a lead coordinator for the butterfly assessment. “The positive thing is that so many people care now and there’s a lot more consciousness. Under the European Union nature restoration law, all member countries have to turn around the decline in pollinating insects by the year 2030, and they are going to have to start doing something. There are land holders who are interested. Let’s hope they can obtain the encouragements that will help them on their way.”

According to Martin Warren, there is “low-hanging fruit” in terms of steps for pollinating species which will not lower agricultural output – and may enhance it – such as farmers creating bloom-filled edges around their fields.

the EU’s environment commissioner, portrayed the preservation condition of non-managed bees, butterfly species and other pollinating insects as “critical”.

“Urgent and collective action is necessary to tackle this risk. Together with member states, the Commission of the European Union has implemented an Europe-wide observation system for pollinators based on the European Union nature restoration legislation, which will assist in monitoring our progress. Now, we need to focus on execution and partnership with member countries to preserve our pollinating species,” she said.

The issuance of the evaluations of bees along with butterflies follows the pioneering Europe-wide evaluation of hoverflies, a further crucial group of pollinators. Released in 2022, it revealed that 37% of all hoverfly varieties in European nations were threatened with extinction.