Alarming Increase in At-Risk Wild Bee Types Across Europe

The count of non-managed bee varieties in the European continent experiencing dying out has over doubled over the past decade, whereas the total of threatened butterfly types has almost doubled.

This pressing issue for vital pollinating species was disclosed by research studies for the IUCN red list, which found that at least one hundred seventy-two bee varieties out of nearly two thousand were threatened with extinction in the European continent.

The number of butterflies facing extinction in Europe has grown from thirty-seven to 65 since the last study, carried out over a decade past. One type, the large white of Madeira (Pieris wollastoni) has now been classified as extinct.

Apart from their aesthetic appeal and cultural importance, pollinating insects like bees and butterfly species are crucial elements for our physical condition, our food systems and our economies – supporting the fruits, vegetables and seeds that sustain us,” said the IUCN’s director general. “The most recent assessments of the European red list reveal serious challenges, with risks mounting for butterflies and essential non-managed bee types.”

The causes of the rapid recent declines are the ongoing harm or degradation of natural habitats caused by intensive agriculture and abandoned land, draining wetlands, overgrazing by livestock, and the use of pesticides and fertilisers including neonicotinoid pesticides. The fragmentation of habitat friendly to pollinators greatly increases the risk of local extinctions.

Global heating is also shown to be a significant danger: Fifty-two percent of all at-risk butterfly species in Europe are endangered by the climate emergency – roughly twice as many as a decade ago.

Nearly ninety percent of plants that flower in European nations depend on animal pollination, as per the lead coordinator of the wild bee assessment. “Sadly, wild bee colonies are in drastic decline and are not easily replaceable by managed colonies,” he said. “If wild bees vanish, many wild plants might be threatened too – of which meadows rich in flowers and lovely orchid types are just a few examples.”

Fifteen types of bumblebee types, which perform a vital function in aiding the pollination of peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and fourteen varieties of cellophane bee species, famous for pollinating trees such as willows along with red maples, are now listed as threatened. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee found only in the European continent and the sole species of this genus in Europe, is now classified as severely threatened – 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 must ascend higher as their environments become warmer 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 species endemic to Europe (only found in Europe) facing extinction.

In the Mediterranean area, types such as the highly at-risk grayling of Karpathos are endangered by extreme dry conditions and fires.

Meanwhile, in the Arctic Circle, climate change is resulting in the tree line to shift northward by many meters each year, with underbrush invading wetlands and tundra. Hotter climates also mean caribou can no more cross the frozen water to graze Arctic grasslands and keep them open. Eight butterfly species are at risk of extinction in this zone, including the fritillary of Freyja and the ringlet of the Arctic.

“The biggest living space for all these pollinating insects is flower-rich grassland and that is vanishing rapidly across Europe because of all these reasons,” said Martin Warren. “The encouraging aspect is that so many citizens care now and there’s a lot more consciousness. Under the EU nature restoration legislation, all member states have to reverse the decline in pollinating insects by twenty-thirty, and they are going to have to start doing something. There are landowners who are interested. It is hoped they can get the encouragements that will support them on their way.”

As stated by Martin Warren, there is “readily achievable actions” in terms of measures for pollinating insects which won’t reduce crop yields – and might boost it – such as farmers creating flower-rich margins around their farmland.

Jessika Roswall, characterized the preservation condition of non-managed bees, butterfly species and other pollinating insects as “severe”.

“Prompt and unified steps is needed to address this danger. In collaboration with member states, the EU Commission has put in place an EU-wide observation system for pollinating insects based on the EU nature restoration regulation, which will aid in following our progress. Now, we need to focus on implementation and cooperation with member countries to protect our pollinators,” she said.

The release of the assessments on bees and butterflies follows the initial European-wide evaluation of hoverflies, another vital pollinating insect category. Released in 2022, it revealed that 37% of all hoverfly varieties in European nations were at risk of extinction.