Concerning Rise in At-Risk Non-Managed Bee Species Across European Nations

The total of wild bee varieties in the European continent facing disappearance has increased twofold during the previous ten-year period, and the number of at-risk butterfly types has close to doubled.

This pressing issue for essential pollinating insects was disclosed by scientific studies for the IUCN red list, which determined that at least 172 bee types out of over 1900 were at risk of extinction in European nations.

The number of butterfly species facing extinction in European nations has grown from thirty-seven to sixty-five since the previous assessment, carried out 14 years ago. One species, the Madeiran large white butterfly (Pieris wollastoni) has now been classified as extinct.

“Beyond their aesthetic appeal and cultural significance, pollinating species like bees and butterflies are lifelines for our well-being, our food systems and our economies – maintaining the fruits, vegetables and seeds that nourish us,” commented Grethel Aguilar. “The newest assessments of the European red list reveal significant difficulties, with risks growing for butterfly types and crucial non-managed bee varieties.”

The causes of the rapid recent declines are the ongoing destruction or damage of habitats caused by intensive agriculture and land abandonment, draining wetlands, excessive grazing by animals, and the application of pesticides and fertilisers including neonicotinoid pesticides. The division of environments suitable for pollinators greatly increases the threat of local extinctions.

Climate change is also demonstrated to be a significant danger: Fifty-two percent of all at-risk butterfly types in European nations are threatened by the climate change crisis – about twice as many as a ten years ago.

Nearly ninety percent of flowering plants in Europe depend on insect pollination, according to the lead coordinator of the wild bee assessment. “Unfortunately, wild bee populations are in sharp decrease and cannot readily be substituted by domesticated hives,” he said. “If native bees die out, many native plants might be at risk too – of which flower-rich meadows and attractive orchid varieties are just a handful of illustrations.”

Fifteen species of bumblebees, which play a crucial role in aiding the pollination of legumes like peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and fourteen varieties of cellophane bee types, recognized for pollinating trees such as willows along with red maples, are now classified as threatened. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee species exclusive to the mainland and the sole species of this genus group in the European continent, is now classified as critically at risk – the scientific category most akin to dying out in natural habitats.

Butterflies that are only found on mountain tops are especially at risk to global heating as they need to move uphill as their living spaces become more heated but ultimately exhaust available space. In Spain’s southern region, the Nevada grayling butterfly and the Andalusian anomalous blue butterfly are among above 40 percent of types unique to Europe (only found in Europe) threatened with extinction.

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

Meanwhile, in the Arctic region, global heating is resulting in the tree line to move north by dozens of meters each year, with underbrush invading marsh and tundra. Warmer conditions also mean reindeer can no longer cross the frozen water to browse Arctic grasslands and maintain them clear. Eight types of butterflies are threatened with extinction in this region, including Freyja’s fritillary butterfly and the Arctic ringlet butterfly.

“The largest living space for all these pollinating insects is flower-rich grassland and that is vanishing rapidly across European nations because of all these elements,” stated Martin Warren. “The positive thing is that so many citizens are concerned now and there’s a lot more awareness. Under the EU nature restoration legislation, all member countries have to reverse the decline in pollinating insects by twenty-thirty, and they are going to have to start doing something. There are land holders who are involved. It is hoped they can obtain the encouragements that will support them on their way.”

As stated by the coordinator, there is “easy opportunities” in terms of action for pollinators which will not decrease food production – and could improve it – such as growers establishing flower-rich margins around their fields.

Jessika Roswall, described the protection status of wild bees, butterflies and other pollinators as “severe”.

“Urgent and collective action is necessary to confront this risk. In collaboration with member states, the Commission of the European Union has established an EU-wide observation system for pollinating insects based on the EU nature restoration law, which will assist in monitoring our development. Now, we need to focus on implementation and cooperation with member states to protect our pollinators,” she said.

The publication of the bee and butterfly assessments comes after the pioneering EU-wide study on hoverflies, a further vital pollinating insect category. Issued in 2022, it revealed that thirty-seven percent of all hoverfly types in European nations were threatened with extinction.