Concerning Increase in Endangered Native Bee Varieties Across the European Continent

The count of native bee species in European nations confronting extinction has over doubled in the last ten years, and the count of at-risk butterfly species has almost doubled.

This critical situation for vital pollinating insects was disclosed by research studies for the red list of threatened species, which found that at least 172 bee species out of over 1900 were at risk of extinction in European nations.

The count of butterflies at risk of extinction in Europe has increased from 37 to 65 since the previous assessment, conducted a decade and a half ago. A single species, the Madeiran large white (Pieris wollastoni) has now been classified as extinct.

“Beyond their visual charm and cultural significance, pollinating insects like bees along with butterflies are crucial elements for our health, our food chains and our economies – supporting the fruits, vegetables and seeds that feed us,” said the IUCN director general. “The newest assessments of the European red list reveal significant difficulties, with risks growing for butterfly types and essential wild bee varieties.”

The factors of the swift recent drops are the ongoing harm or degradation of living environments caused by agricultural intensification and land abandonment, wetland drainage, livestock overgrazing, and the application of fertilisers and pesticides including neonicotinoid pesticides. The division of habitat friendly to pollinators significantly raises the threat of disappearances in specific areas.

Global heating is also revealed to be a primary risk: Over half of all endangered butterfly types in European nations are endangered by the climate crisis – about double the number as a previous decade.

As many as 90% of flowering plants in Europe require insect pollination, according to the wild bee assessment’s lead coordinator. “Unfortunately, wild bee colonies are in drastic decline 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 flower-rich meadows and beautiful orchid species are just a couple of instances.”

Fifteen species of bumblebee species, which have an essential part in fertilizing crops such as peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and fourteen varieties of cellophane bees, known for pollinating trees such as willows and red maples, are now listed as threatened. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee found only in the continent and the single type of this biological genus in the European continent, is now assessed as critically endangered – the research category nearest to dying out in natural habitats.

Butterfly types that are exclusively located on high-altitude areas are particularly vulnerable to global heating as they must ascend higher as their habitats become warmer but eventually exhaust available space. In southern Spain, the grayling of Nevada and the Andalusian anomalous blue are among more than 40% of types unique to Europe (solely present in Europe) facing extinction.

In the Mediterranean region, species such as the critically endangered Karpathos grayling are endangered by extreme wildfires and drought.

Meanwhile, in the Far North, global warming is resulting in the timberline to advance northwards by many meters each year, with bushes encroaching on bog and tundra. Higher temperatures also mean reindeer can no more cross the ice sheets to browse Arctic meadows and maintain them clear. 8 butterfly varieties are threatened with extinction in this area, 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,” said 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 understanding. Under the European Union nature restoration law, all member countries have to reverse the decrease in pollinating insects by twenty-thirty, and they are going to have to initiate measures. There are land holders who are involved. Let’s hope they can obtain the encouragements that will assist them on their way.”

As stated by Warren, there is “easy opportunities” in terms of action for pollinating insects which will not lower food production – and might boost it – such as agricultural producers establishing margins rich in flowers around their cultivated areas.

EU commissioner for environment, characterized the conservation status of native bees, butterflies and additional pollinators as “dire”.

“Immediate and joint measures is necessary to tackle this risk. Together with member states, the Commission of the European Union has put in place an European Union-wide tracking system for pollinating insects based on the European Union nature restoration legislation, which will aid in following our development. Now, we need to focus on implementation and partnership with member countries to preserve our pollinating species,” she said.

The issuance of the evaluations of bees along with butterflies follows the pioneering European-wide assessment of hoverflies, a further crucial pollinator group. Published in 2022, it disclosed that thirty-seven percent of all hoverfly types in European nations were at risk of extinction.