Concerning Surge in Endangered Non-Managed Bee Types Across European Nations

The number of wild bee types in European nations facing disappearance has over doubled over the past decade, while the number of endangered butterfly species has almost doubled.

This dire scenario for crucial pollinating insects was unveiled by scientific studies for the red list of threatened species, which established that at least one hundred seventy-two bee varieties out of nearly two thousand were threatened with extinction in Europe.

The count of butterflies threatened with extinction in Europe has risen from 37 to over sixty since the earlier research, carried out 14 years ago. One type, the Madeiran large white butterfly (Pieris wollastoni) has now been classified as extinct.

Apart from their aesthetic appeal and cultural value, pollinating insects like bees along with butterflies are essential supports for our physical condition, our food chains and our economic systems – sustaining the fruits, vegetables and seeds that nourish us,” stated the IUCN’s director general. “The latest European red list evaluations reveal significant difficulties, with threats increasing for butterfly species and crucial non-managed bee species.”

The reasons of the rapid recent declines are the continuing damage or destruction of natural habitats caused by agricultural intensification and deserted farmland, wetland drainage, overgrazing by livestock, and the use of fertilisers and pesticides including neonicotinoid chemicals. The fragmentation of environments suitable for pollinators greatly increases the threat of disappearances in specific areas.

Climate change is also shown to be a major threat: Over half of all threatened butterfly types in Europe are threatened by the climate crisis – roughly double the number as a previous decade.

Up to nine out of ten of plants that flower in Europe depend on insect pollination, as per the lead coordinator of the wild bee assessment. “Unfortunately, non-managed bee populations are in severe drop and cannot be easily replaced by domesticated hives,” he said. “If wild bees vanish, many wild plants might be at risk too – of which bloom-filled grasslands and beautiful orchid species are just a couple of instances.”

Fifteen species of bumblebee types, which have an essential part in fertilizing peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and 14 types of cellophane bee species, recognized for fertilizing trees such as willow trees and red maples, are now classified as threatened. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee type exclusive to the continent and the single type of this genus group in European nations, is now evaluated as critically at risk – the scientific classification most akin to dying out in natural habitats.

Butterfly species that are solely present on mountain peaks are especially at risk to global heating as they must ascend higher as their habitats become more heated but eventually exhaust available space. In Spain’s southern region, the Nevada grayling butterfly and the anomalous blue of Andalusia are among more than 40% of European endemics (exclusive to Europe) threatened with extinction.

In the Mediterranean, types such as the critically endangered Karpathos grayling butterfly are endangered by intense wildfires and drought.

At the same time, in the Arctic region, global warming is causing the forest boundary to advance northwards by many meters each year, with underbrush taking over bog and tundra. Higher temperatures also mean reindeer can not anymore cross the frozen water to feed on Arctic grasslands and keep them open. 8 butterfly varieties are at risk of extinction in this zone, including Freyja’s fritillary butterfly and the Arctic ringlet.

“The largest living space for all these pollinating species is bloom-filled grassy areas and that is disappearing very fast in European nations because of all these reasons,” remarked one of the lead coordinators of the butterflies assessment. “The positive thing is that so many individuals are aware now and there’s a lot more awareness. Under the EU’s nature restoration regulation, all member countries have to turn around the decrease in pollinating species by the year 2030, and they are going to have to start doing something. There are property owners who are interested. It is hoped they can obtain the motivations that will support them on their way.”

According to Martin Warren, there is “readily achievable actions” in terms of action for pollinating insects which won’t reduce food production – and may enhance it – such as farmers establishing margins rich in flowers around their cultivated areas.

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

“Immediate and joint measures is needed to tackle this danger. Along with member states, the Commission of the European Union has implemented an Europe-wide tracking system for pollinators based on the European Union nature restoration legislation, which will help to track our progress. Now, we need to concentrate on implementation and collaboration with participating nations to protect our pollinators,” she said.

The release of the assessments on bees and butterflies is subsequent to the first European-wide study on hoverflies, another crucial pollinating insect category. Published in twenty-twenty-two, it showed that 37% of all hoverfly species in European nations were facing extinction.