Worrying Surge in At-Risk Non-Managed Bee Types In the European Continent

The total of wild bee types in European nations confronting extinction has more than doubled over the past decade, whereas the total of at-risk butterfly species has almost doubled.

This pressing issue for crucial pollinating species was disclosed by scientific assessments for the red list of threatened species, which determined that at least over 170 bee types out of over 1900 were facing extinction in Europe.

The count of butterfly species at risk of extinction in European nations has risen from 37 to over sixty since the previous assessment, performed 14 years ago. One species, the Madeiran large white (Pieris wollastoni) has now been declared extinct.

“Beyond their visual charm and cultural significance, pollinating insects like bees along with butterflies are essential supports for our physical condition, our food systems and our financial structures – sustaining the fruits, veggies and seeds that nourish us,” commented the IUCN director general. “The newest European red list evaluations reveal major obstacles, with risks growing for butterfly species and crucial wild bee varieties.”

The causes of the quick recent decreases are the ongoing damage or destruction of living environments caused by farming intensification and abandoned land, draining wetlands, overgrazing by livestock, and the utilization of fertilisers and pesticides including neonicotinoids. The fragmentation of environments suitable for pollinators substantially boosts the threat of disappearances in specific areas.

Global heating is also shown to be a major threat: 52% of all at-risk butterfly types in Europe are imperilled by the climate crisis – roughly twice as many as a decade ago.

Nearly 90% of flowering plants in the European continent require pollination by animals, as stated by the lead coordinator of the wild bee assessment. “Regrettably, native bee groups are in drastic decline and cannot readily be substituted by domesticated hives,” he said. “If non-managed bees disappear, many non-cultivated plants might be threatened too – of which meadows rich in flowers and lovely orchid types are just a couple of instances.”

Fifteen types of bumblebee types, which play a crucial role in pollinating crops such as peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and 14 species of cellophane bees, famous for fertilizing trees such as willow trees and red maples, are now listed as threatened. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee exclusive to the European continent and the only species of this genus in Europe, is now assessed as critically at risk – the scientific category closest to disappearance in the wild.

Butterfly species that are solely present on mountain tops are particularly vulnerable to global warming as they have to climb upward as their environments become more heated but in the end exhaust available space. In the southern part of Spain, the Nevada grayling butterfly and the Andalusian anomalous blue butterfly are among above 40 percent of types unique to Europe (only found in Europe) facing extinction.

In the Mediterranean region, types such as the highly at-risk Karpathos grayling butterfly are threatened by severe wildfires and drought.

In the meantime, in the Arctic region, global heating is leading to the tree line to advance northwards by dozens of meters each year, with underbrush taking over bog and tundra. Warmer conditions also mean caribou can no more cross the ice sheets to graze Arctic meadows and prevent them from overgrowing. Eight butterfly species are at risk of extinction in this zone, including Freyja’s fritillary and the Arctic ringlet.

“The largest habitat for all these pollinators is grassland rich in flowers and that is disappearing very fast across European nations because of all these reasons,” stated a lead coordinator for the butterfly assessment. “The positive thing is that so many people are concerned now and there’s a lot more consciousness. Under the European Union nature restoration law, all participating nations have to reverse the drop in pollinating insects by the year 2030, and they are going to have to initiate measures. There are land holders who are involved. We hope they can get the incentives that will assist them on their way.”

As per Martin Warren, there is “easy opportunities” in terms of measures for pollinators which will not lower food production – and may enhance it – such as growers establishing bloom-filled edges around their fields.

EU commissioner for environment, described the protection status of non-managed bees, butterfly species and other pollinating insects as “critical”.

“Urgent and collective action is necessary to confront this danger. Together with participating nations, the EU Commission has put in place an Europe-wide monitoring system for pollinating species based on the EU nature restoration regulation, which will aid in following our progress. Now, we need to focus on implementation and partnership with member states to preserve our pollinators,” she said.

The publication of the bee and butterfly assessments follows the pioneering Europe-wide assessment of hoverflies, a further essential group of pollinators. Published in 2022, it disclosed that over one-third of all hoverfly species in the European continent were at risk of extinction.