Concerning Surge in Endangered Wild Bee Varieties Throughout European Nations

The count of non-managed bee types in Europe experiencing disappearance has increased twofold in the last ten years, whereas the number of threatened butterfly has almost doubled.

This dire scenario for essential pollinating insects was disclosed by scientific assessments for the red list of threatened species, which established that at least over 170 bee species out of nearly two thousand were threatened with extinction in the European continent.

The count of butterflies at risk of extinction in the European continent has grown from over thirty-five to sixty-five since the last study, carried out 14 years ago. One species, the Madeiran large white butterfly (Pieris wollastoni) has now been confirmed extinct.

In addition to their aesthetic appeal and cultural value, pollinating species like bees and butterflies are essential supports for our well-being, our food chains and our financial structures – maintaining the fruits, vegetables and seeds that sustain us,” stated the IUCN director general. “The most recent European red list assessments reveal major obstacles, with dangers mounting for butterflies and essential wild bee species.”

The reasons of the rapid recent declines are the continuing harm or degradation of habitats caused by agricultural intensification and abandoned land, draining of wetlands, livestock overgrazing, and the use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides including neonicotinoid pesticides. The breaking up of pollinator-friendly habitat significantly raises the threat of extinctions at local level.

Climate change is also demonstrated to be a significant danger: 52% of all at-risk butterfly types in the European continent are endangered by the climate change crisis – about twofold the amount as a ten years ago.

Up to nine out of ten of flowering plants in the European continent require animal pollination, as per Dr Denis Michez. “Unfortunately, native bee groups are in severe drop and are not easily replaceable by managed colonies,” he said. “If non-managed bees disappear, many wild plants might be threatened too – of which meadows rich in flowers and beautiful orchid species are just a couple of instances.”

15 varieties of bumblebees, which perform a vital function in aiding the pollination of peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and 14 types of cellophane bees, recognized for pollinating trees such as willows and red maples, are now classified as threatened. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee species exclusive to the European continent and the only species of this genus group in the European continent, is now assessed as critically at risk – the scientific classification nearest to disappearance in the wild.

Butterfly types that are only found on mountain tops are particularly vulnerable to global warming as they must ascend higher as their environments become more heated but in the end run out of space. In Spain’s southern region, the Nevada grayling and the Andalusian anomalous blue are among more than 40% of European endemics (solely present in Europe) facing extinction.

In the Mediterranean region, types such as the severely threatened Karpathos grayling are endangered by severe wildfires and drought.

Meanwhile, in the Far North, global warming is resulting in the forest boundary to move north by many meters each year, with bushes invading wetlands and tundra. Warmer conditions also mean reindeer can no longer cross the ice to graze Arctic grasslands and maintain them clear. 8 butterfly varieties are threatened with extinction in this zone, including the fritillary of Freyja and the ringlet of the Arctic.

“The greatest environment for all these pollinators is bloom-filled grassy areas and that is vanishing rapidly in European nations because of all these factors,” stated one of the lead coordinators of the butterflies assessment. “The encouraging aspect is that so many people are concerned now and there’s a lot more consciousness. Under the European Union nature restoration law, all member countries have to reverse the drop in pollinating insects by twenty-thirty, and they are going to have to begin taking action. There are land holders who are involved. It is hoped they can receive the incentives that will support them on their way.”

As per Warren, there is “easy opportunities” in terms of action for pollinators which won’t reduce crop yields – and could improve it – such as growers creating margins rich in flowers around their farmland.

EU commissioner for environment, portrayed the protection status of wild bees, butterflies and other pollinators as “critical”.

“Urgent and collective action is necessary to address this risk. In collaboration with member states, the Commission of the European Union has implemented an EU-wide observation system for pollinators based on the EU nature restoration law, which will aid in following our advancement. Now, we need to focus on application and collaboration with participating nations to safeguard our pollinating species,” she said.

The publication of the bee and butterfly assessments is subsequent to the initial European-wide study on hoverflies, an additional crucial pollinating insect category. Published in 2022, it revealed that over one-third of all hoverfly varieties in the European continent were at risk of extinction.