Concerning Increase in Threatened Native Bee Species Across the European Continent

The total of non-managed bee types in the European continent experiencing dying out has more than doubled over the past decade, and the count of threatened butterfly species has almost doubled.

This pressing issue for essential pollinating species was disclosed by research studies for the IUCN red list, which found that at least 172 bee species out of nearly two thousand were facing extinction in the European continent.

The number of butterfly types threatened with extinction in the European continent has increased from thirty-seven to over sixty since the earlier research, performed a decade and a half ago. A single species, the Madeiran large white (Pieris wollastoni) has now been declared extinct.

“Beyond their visual charm and cultural value, pollinating species like bees and butterflies are essential supports for our physical condition, our food supplies and our economic systems – supporting the fruits, vegetables and seeds that sustain us,” commented Grethel Aguilar. “The most recent assessments of the European red list reveal significant difficulties, with risks mounting for butterfly species and vital native bee types.”

The reasons of the rapid recent declines are the ongoing destruction or damage 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 neonicotinoids. The division of habitat friendly to pollinators substantially boosts the risk of local extinctions.

Climate change is also shown to be a major threat: Fifty-two percent of all endangered butterflies in Europe are threatened by the climate crisis – approximately double the number as a previous decade.

As many as 90% of plants that flower in Europe depend on animal pollination, as stated by Dr Denis Michez. “Sadly, wild bee populations are in drastic decline and cannot readily be substituted by managed colonies,” he said. “If native bees die out, many wild plants might be at risk too – of which bloom-filled grasslands and attractive orchid varieties are just a handful of illustrations.”

Fifteen types of bumblebees, which perform a vital function in aiding the pollination of legumes like peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and 14 types of cellophane bee species, known for pollinating trees such as willows along with red maples, are now classified as threatened. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee species found only in the mainland and the sole species of this genus group in European nations, is now evaluated as critically at risk – the scientific category most akin to disappearance in the wild.

Butterfly types that are exclusively located on mountain peaks are particularly vulnerable to global heating as they need to move uphill as their environments become warmer but eventually exhaust available space. In Spain’s southern region, the grayling of Nevada and the anomalous blue of Andalusia are among over forty percent of types unique to Europe (exclusive to Europe) at risk of extinction.

In the Mediterranean area, varieties such as the severely threatened grayling of Karpathos are endangered by extreme dry conditions and fires.

In the meantime, in the Arctic Circle, climate change is resulting in the timberline to advance northwards by dozens of meters each year, with bushes taking over marsh and tundra. Warmer conditions also mean caribou can no more cross the ice sheets to browse Arctic grasslands and prevent them from overgrowing. Eight butterfly species are threatened with extinction in this area, including Freyja’s fritillary butterfly and the Arctic ringlet.

“The greatest environment for all these pollinating species is bloom-filled grassy areas and that is disappearing very fast across Europe because of all these elements,” remarked a lead coordinator for the butterfly assessment. “The encouraging aspect is that so many people care now and there’s a lot more understanding. Under the EU nature restoration legislation, all member states have to turn around the decrease in pollinators by the year 2030, and they are going to have to initiate measures. There are property owners who are involved. It is hoped they can obtain the incentives that will assist them on their way.”

As stated by the coordinator, there is “easy opportunities” in terms of measures for pollinating insects which won’t reduce agricultural output – and might boost it – such as farmers establishing margins rich in flowers around their farmland.

the EU’s environment commissioner, characterized the protection status of wild bees, butterflies and other pollinators as “critical”.

“Urgent and collective action is necessary to confront this threat. In collaboration with participating nations, the EU Commission has implemented an European Union-wide monitoring system for pollinators based on the EU nature restoration regulation, which will help to track our development. Now, we need to focus on application and cooperation with participating nations to protect our pollinating species,” she said.

The release of the bee and butterfly assessments comes after the first European-wide study on hoverflies, a further vital pollinator group. Released in 2022, it showed that thirty-seven percent of all hoverfly types in European nations were facing extinction.