Concerning Rise in Endangered Native Bee Species Across the European Continent

The number of non-managed bee species in the European continent confronting extinction has more than doubled over the past decade, and the total of endangered butterfly types has nearly doubled.

This dire scenario for essential pollinators was unveiled by research studies for the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) red list, which established that at least 172 bee varieties out of nearly two thousand were at risk of extinction in the European continent.

The number of butterflies at risk of extinction in the European continent has grown from over thirty-five to 65 since the previous assessment, performed 14 years ago. One type, the Madeiran large white (Pieris wollastoni) has now been declared extinct.

“Beyond their aesthetic appeal and cultural value, pollinating species like bees and butterfly species are lifelines for our well-being, our food systems and our economic systems – maintaining the fruits, vegetables and seeds that nourish us,” said Grethel Aguilar. “The newest European red list evaluations reveal serious challenges, with dangers increasing for butterflies and essential native bee varieties.”

The causes of the swift recent drops are the ongoing destruction or damage of living environments caused by agricultural intensification and abandoned land, draining wetlands, excessive grazing by animals, and the application of chemical fertilisers and pesticides including neonicotinoid chemicals. The breaking up of environments suitable for pollinators substantially boosts the danger of extinctions at local level.

Global warming is also demonstrated to be a primary risk: Fifty-two percent of all at-risk butterfly species in European nations are threatened by the climate crisis – roughly twofold the amount as a previous decade.

Nearly nine out of ten of blooming plants in the European continent rely on pollination by animals, as per the lead coordinator of the wild bee assessment. “Regrettably, non-managed bee populations are in sharp decrease and cannot be easily replaced by domesticated hives,” he said. “If native bees vanish, many native plants might be threatened too – of which bloom-filled grasslands and attractive orchid varieties are just a few examples.”

15 varieties of bumblebees, which play a crucial role in fertilizing peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and fourteen varieties of cellophane bee species, famous for fertilizing trees such as willows and red maples, are now listed as threatened. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee type unique to the European continent and the single type of this biological genus in European nations, is now classified as severely threatened – the research category nearest to dying out in natural habitats.

Butterflies that are exclusively located on mountain tops are especially at risk to global warming as they must ascend higher as their living spaces become more heated but eventually run out of space. In southern Spain, the grayling of Nevada and the anomalous blue of Andalusia are among more than 40% of European endemics (exclusive to Europe) threatened with extinction.

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

Meanwhile, in the Arctic Circle, global warming is resulting in the forest boundary to shift northward by dozens of meters each year, with scrub taking over marsh and tundra. Higher temperatures also mean reindeer can not anymore cross the ice sheets to feed on Arctic meadows and prevent them from overgrowing. Eight types of butterflies are at risk of extinction in this zone, including the fritillary of Freyja and the ringlet of the Arctic.

“The greatest habitat for all these pollinators is grassland rich in flowers and that is vanishing rapidly in European nations because of all these elements,” said Martin Warren. “The good news is that so many citizens are concerned now and there’s a lot more awareness. Under the EU’s nature restoration regulation, all member countries have to halt the decline in pollinators by twenty-thirty, and they are going to have to initiate measures. There are land holders who are engaged. It is hoped they can get the motivations that will support them on their way.”

According to the coordinator, there is “low-hanging fruit” in terms of action for pollinators which will not decrease food production – and may enhance it – such as agricultural producers establishing margins rich in flowers around their cultivated areas.

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

“Urgent and collective action is required to tackle this risk. Together with participating nations, the EU Commission has put in place an EU-wide tracking system for pollinating insects based on the EU nature restoration regulation, which will help to track our development. Now, we need to prioritize execution and collaboration with member countries to safeguard our pollinating insects,” she said.

The issuance of the evaluations of bees along with butterflies comes after the pioneering EU-wide evaluation of hoverflies, an additional vital pollinator group. Issued in twenty-twenty-two, it revealed that over one-third of all hoverfly types in the European continent were at risk of extinction.