Worrying Increase in At-Risk Native Bee Types In European Nations

The number of non-managed bee types in Europe facing disappearance has more than doubled during the previous ten-year period, while the count of threatened butterfly species has nearly doubled.

This critical situation for vital pollinating insects was revealed by scientific studies for the red list of threatened species, which determined that at least one hundred seventy-two bee varieties out of over 1900 were facing extinction in Europe.

The number of butterflies threatened with extinction in Europe has risen from 37 to 65 since the earlier research, conducted 14 years ago. A single species, the Madeiran large white butterfly (Pieris wollastoni) has now been declared extinct.

In addition to their beauty and cultural value, pollinating species like bees and butterflies are essential supports for our physical condition, our food chains and our economies – maintaining the fruits, veggies and seeds that feed us,” stated the IUCN’s director general. “The most recent European red list evaluations reveal major obstacles, with threats increasing for butterfly types and vital non-managed bee varieties.”

The causes of the rapid recent declines are the persistent harm or degradation of living environments caused by farming intensification and abandoned land, draining of wetlands, livestock overgrazing, and the utilization of fertilisers and pesticides including neonicotinoids. The fragmentation of environments suitable for pollinators substantially boosts the threat of disappearances in specific areas.

Global heating is also shown to be a primary risk: Fifty-two percent of all at-risk butterfly species in Europe are endangered by the climate emergency – approximately double the number as a ten years ago.

As many as nine out of ten of blooming plants in the European continent rely on insect pollination, according to Dr Denis Michez. “Regrettably, non-managed bee populations are in sharp decrease and cannot be easily replaced by managed colonies,” he said. “If non-managed bees vanish, many non-cultivated plants might be in danger as well – of which meadows rich in flowers and lovely orchid types are just a couple of instances.”

15 varieties of bumblebee types, which play a crucial role in aiding the pollination of legumes like peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and 14 types of cellophane bee types, recognized for fertilizing trees such as willows along with red maples, are now categorized as at-risk. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee exclusive to the European continent and the only species of this genus group in Europe, is now classified as critically at risk – the scientific category nearest to dying out in natural habitats.

Butterflies that are only found on high-altitude areas are especially at risk to global warming as they must ascend higher as their environments become hotter but in the end exhaust available space. In southern Spain, the Nevada grayling and the Andalusian anomalous blue butterfly are among over forty percent of European endemics (solely present in Europe) threatened with extinction.

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

At the same time, in the Arctic region, global warming is resulting in the tree line to advance northwards by many meters each year, with bushes taking over marsh and tundra. Higher temperatures also mean Arctic deer can no more cross the ice sheets to feed on Arctic grasslands and maintain them clear. 8 butterfly varieties are at risk of extinction in this area, including Freyja’s fritillary and the Arctic ringlet butterfly.

“The biggest habitat for all these pollinating insects is bloom-filled grassy areas and that is disappearing very fast throughout European nations because of all these factors,” remarked one of the lead coordinators of the butterflies assessment. “The good news is that so many individuals are aware now and there’s a lot more awareness. Under the EU nature restoration legislation, all member countries have to reverse the drop in pollinating insects by twenty-thirty, and they are going to have to initiate measures. There are land holders who are involved. We hope they can obtain the encouragements that will help them on their way.”

According to Martin Warren, there is “easy opportunities” in terms of steps for pollinating species which will not lower food production – and may enhance it – such as farmers developing margins rich in flowers around their farmland.

the EU’s environment commissioner, portrayed the preservation condition of wild bees, butterflies and other pollinators as “severe”.

“Prompt and unified steps is necessary to tackle this danger. Along with member states, the European Commission has put in place an European Union-wide tracking system for pollinating species based on the EU nature restoration law, which will assist in monitoring our progress. Now, we need to focus on execution and partnership with member countries to safeguard our pollinating species,” she said.

The publication of the assessments on bees and butterflies comes after the pioneering European-wide study on hoverflies, a further essential group of pollinators. Issued in 2022, it showed that 37% of all hoverfly varieties in the European continent were facing extinction.