Worrying Rise in Endangered Wild Bee Species Throughout European Nations

The count of non-managed bee species in Europe facing extinction has over doubled over the past decade, while the number of endangered butterfly has close to doubled.

This dire scenario for vital pollinators was revealed by scientific assessments for the red list of threatened species, which determined that at least over 170 bee varieties out of 1,928 were facing extinction in European nations.

The total of butterflies at risk of extinction in European nations has risen from 37 to 65 since the previous assessment, conducted a decade and a half ago. One type, the Madeiran large white (Pieris wollastoni) has now been declared extinct.

“Beyond their aesthetic appeal and cultural importance, pollinating insects like bees and butterfly species are crucial elements for our health, our food chains and our financial structures – supporting the fruits, vegetables and seeds that nourish us,” commented the IUCN’s director general. “The latest assessments of the European red list reveal major obstacles, with dangers increasing for butterfly types and essential wild bee species.”

The factors of the swift recent drops are the ongoing harm or degradation of habitats caused by farming intensification and deserted farmland, draining wetlands, livestock overgrazing, and the application of pesticides and fertilisers including neonicotinoid pesticides. The breaking up of environments suitable for pollinators greatly increases the threat of disappearances in specific areas.

Global warming is also revealed to be a primary risk: Over half of all at-risk butterfly species in the European continent are endangered by the climate change crisis – roughly double the number as a ten years ago.

Up to 90% of blooming plants in Europe require pollination by animals, according to the lead coordinator of the wild bee assessment. “Unfortunately, wild bee groups are in severe drop and cannot be easily replaced by managed colonies,” he said. “If non-managed bees die out, many native plants might be threatened too – of which meadows rich in flowers and attractive orchid varieties are just a few examples.”

Fifteen types of bumblebee species, which have an essential part in aiding the pollination of peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and 14 species of cellophane bees, recognized for fertilizing trees such as willows along with red maples, are now listed as threatened. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee exclusive to the continent and the single type of this genus group in the European continent, is now classified as severely threatened – the scientific classification closest to extinction in the wild.

Butterflies that are exclusively located on mountain peaks are highly susceptible to global warming as they need to move uphill as their environments become warmer but in the end 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, types such as the severely threatened grayling of Karpathos are imperilled by severe dry conditions and fires.

Meanwhile, in the Arctic Circle, global warming is leading to the timberline to advance northwards by tens of metres each year, with bushes invading marsh and tundra. Higher temperatures also mean caribou can not anymore cross the ice to feed on northern grasslands and keep them open. Eight types of butterflies are threatened with extinction in this region, including the fritillary of Freyja and the ringlet of the Arctic.

“The largest environment for all these pollinating species is bloom-filled grassy areas and that is vanishing rapidly across Europe because of all these reasons,” said a lead coordinator for the butterfly assessment. “The positive thing is that so many individuals care now and there’s a lot more understanding. Under the EU’s nature restoration regulation, all member countries have to halt the drop in pollinating species by the year 2030, and they are going to have to start doing something. There are property owners who are engaged. It is hoped they can receive the motivations that will help them on their way.”

As per the coordinator, there is “easy opportunities” in terms of steps for pollinating species which will not lower food production – and may enhance it – such as growers creating bloom-filled edges around their cultivated areas.

Jessika Roswall, described the protection status of native bees, butterflies and additional pollinators as “critical”.

“Prompt and unified steps is needed to confront this danger. Together with member countries, the EU Commission has established an European Union-wide monitoring system for pollinating insects based on the European Union nature restoration legislation, which will aid in following our progress. Now, we need to focus on application and cooperation with member countries to protect our pollinating species,” she said.

The issuance of the bee and butterfly assessments is subsequent to the initial European-wide assessment of hoverflies, an additional vital pollinator group. Issued in 2022, it disclosed that 37% of all hoverfly types in European nations were at risk of extinction.