Worrying Surge in Threatened Native Bee Types Across Europe

The total of non-managed bee species in Europe experiencing extinction has over doubled during the previous ten-year period, while the total of threatened butterfly species has almost doubled.

This critical situation for essential pollinators was revealed by scientific assessments for the IUCN red list, which established that at least one hundred seventy-two bee species out of 1,928 were threatened with extinction in Europe.

The total of butterfly species at risk of extinction in the European continent has risen from thirty-seven to over sixty since the previous assessment, carried out a decade and a half ago. A single species, the Madeiran large white butterfly (Pieris wollastoni) has now been confirmed extinct.

In addition to their visual charm and cultural importance, pollinators like bees along with butterflies are essential supports for our health, our food supplies and our financial structures – sustaining the fruits, vegetables and seeds that sustain us,” said Grethel Aguilar. “The latest European red list evaluations reveal serious challenges, with threats mounting for butterfly species and crucial non-managed bee varieties.”

The reasons of the swift recent drops are the continuing harm or degradation of natural habitats caused by intensive agriculture and deserted farmland, draining wetlands, overgrazing by livestock, and the use of pesticides and fertilisers including neonicotinoid pesticides. The fragmentation of habitat friendly to pollinators substantially boosts the danger of extinctions at local level.

Global heating is also demonstrated to be a primary risk: 52% of all threatened butterflies in European nations are endangered by the climate crisis – about twofold the amount as a ten years ago.

Up to ninety percent of flowering plants in European nations require pollination by animals, as stated by the wild bee assessment’s lead coordinator. “Sadly, native bee groups are in sharp decrease and cannot readily be substituted by domesticated hives,” he said. “If native bees vanish, many wild plants might be in danger as well – of which bloom-filled grasslands and attractive orchid varieties are just a handful of illustrations.”

15 varieties of bumblebee species, which have an essential part in pollinating legumes like peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and 14 types of cellophane bee species, recognized for pollinating trees such as willows and red maples, are now categorized as at-risk. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee type found only in the continent and the single type of this genus in the European continent, is now classified as critically endangered – the scientific classification most akin to dying out in natural habitats.

Butterfly species that are solely present on mountain tops are highly susceptible to global warming as they need to move uphill as their environments become hotter but ultimately have no room left. In Spain’s southern region, the Nevada grayling butterfly and the anomalous blue of Andalusia are among more than 40% of types unique to Europe (only found in Europe) at risk of extinction.

In the Mediterranean, varieties such as the critically endangered Karpathos grayling are imperilled by severe wildfires and drought.

In the meantime, in the Arctic Circle, global heating is leading to the timberline to move north by tens of metres each year, with bushes taking over marsh and tundra. Higher temperatures also mean caribou can no more cross the ice to graze Arctic meadows and maintain them clear. 8 butterfly varieties are threatened with extinction in this area, including Freyja’s fritillary and the Arctic ringlet.

“The greatest environment for all these pollinating insects is flower-rich grassland and that is disappearing very fast in European nations because of all these elements,” remarked one of the lead coordinators of the butterflies assessment. “The encouraging aspect is that so many citizens 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 start doing something. There are property owners who are interested. It is hoped 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 decrease food production – and may enhance it – such as agricultural producers establishing flower-rich margins around their farmland.

EU commissioner for environment, characterized the preservation condition of wild bees, butterflies and other pollinators as “severe”.

“Prompt and unified steps is required to address this threat. In collaboration with participating nations, the Commission of the European Union has established an Europe-wide observation system for pollinators based on the European Union nature restoration legislation, which will aid in following our development. Now, we need to prioritize application and collaboration with member countries to preserve our pollinating species,” she said.

The issuance of the bee and butterfly assessments is subsequent to the first Europe-wide assessment of hoverflies, another essential group of pollinators. Published in 2022, it showed that over one-third of all hoverfly types in Europe were facing extinction.