Concerning Rise in Endangered Native Bee Species In European Nations

The number of wild bee types in Europe facing dying out has over doubled in the last ten years, and the count of threatened butterfly species has close to doubled.

This dire scenario for crucial pollinators was disclosed by scientific studies for the red list of threatened species, which established that at least 172 bee varieties out of nearly two thousand were facing extinction in Europe.

The count of butterflies at risk of extinction in European nations has increased from over thirty-five to over sixty since the earlier research, conducted a decade and a half ago. A single species, the Madeiran large white butterfly (Pieris wollastoni) has now been declared extinct.

“Beyond their aesthetic appeal and cultural significance, pollinating species like bees and butterfly species are essential supports for our well-being, our food systems and our economic systems – sustaining the fruits, vegetables and seeds that nourish us,” said the IUCN’s director general. “The newest European red list assessments reveal serious challenges, with threats mounting for butterfly species and crucial non-managed bee types.”

The factors of the rapid recent declines are the persistent damage or destruction of natural habitats caused by farming intensification and deserted farmland, draining wetlands, livestock overgrazing, and the use of fertilisers and pesticides including neonicotinoid chemicals. The breaking up of habitat friendly to pollinators significantly raises the risk of disappearances in specific areas.

Global warming is also revealed to be a significant danger: Fifty-two percent of all threatened butterflies in Europe are endangered by the climate emergency – roughly twice as many as a previous decade.

As many as 90% of plants that flower in Europe depend on animal pollination, according to the wild bee assessment’s lead coordinator. “Sadly, wild bee colonies are in sharp decrease and cannot readily be substituted by domesticated hives,” he said. “If wild bees die out, many non-cultivated plants might be threatened too – of which flower-rich meadows and attractive orchid varieties are just a couple of instances.”

Fifteen species of bumblebee types, which perform a vital function in fertilizing peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and 14 types of cellophane bee species, recognized for fertilizing trees such as willows along with red maples, are now categorized as at-risk. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee type found only in the European continent and the single type of this genus in European nations, is now classified as critically endangered – the research category most akin to extinction in the wild.

Butterfly species that are solely present on high-altitude areas are particularly vulnerable to global warming as they need to move uphill as their environments become more heated but eventually run out of space. In the southern part of Spain, the Nevada grayling butterfly and the Andalusian anomalous blue are among over forty percent of types unique to Europe (solely present in Europe) facing extinction.

In the Mediterranean region, types such as the severely threatened grayling of Karpathos are imperilled by extreme wildfires and drought.

In the meantime, in the Far North, global heating is leading to the forest boundary to shift northward by many meters each year, with underbrush encroaching on bog and tundra. Hotter climates also mean caribou can no more cross the frozen water to feed on Arctic grasslands and keep them open. Eight types of butterflies are threatened with extinction in this region, including Freyja’s fritillary butterfly and the Arctic ringlet butterfly.

“The biggest living space for all these pollinators is grassland rich in flowers and that is vanishing rapidly throughout European nations because of all these elements,” stated Martin Warren. “The positive thing is that so many citizens are aware now and there’s a lot more awareness. Under the EU nature restoration legislation, all participating nations have to reverse the decrease in pollinating species by the year 2030, and they are going to have to start doing something. There are land holders who are interested. Let’s hope they can get the motivations that will support them on their way.”

As per the coordinator, there is “easy opportunities” in terms of measures for pollinators which won’t reduce food production – and may enhance it – such as agricultural producers creating flower-rich margins around their cultivated areas.

the EU’s environment commissioner, described the preservation condition of non-managed bees, butterfly species and other pollinating insects as “critical”.

“Urgent and collective action is needed to address this risk. Along with participating nations, the EU Commission has established an EU-wide monitoring system for pollinators based on the European Union nature restoration legislation, which will assist in monitoring our development. Now, we need to concentrate on implementation and cooperation with member countries to preserve our pollinating species,” she said.

The release of the assessments on bees and butterflies is subsequent to the pioneering European-wide evaluation of hoverflies, a further crucial pollinator group. Published in 2022, it revealed that 37% of all hoverfly varieties in the European continent were at risk of extinction.