Concerning Increase in Endangered Native Bee Varieties Across the European Continent

The count of non-managed bee types in the European continent facing dying out has over doubled in the last ten years, while the count of at-risk butterfly has almost doubled.

This dire scenario for crucial pollinators was disclosed by research studies for the IUCN red list, which determined that at least 172 bee types out of 1,928 were threatened with extinction in Europe.

The total of butterflies at risk of extinction in Europe has risen from over thirty-five to 65 since the last study, carried out a decade and a half ago. One type, the Madeiran large white butterfly (Pieris wollastoni) has now been declared extinct.

Apart from their aesthetic appeal and cultural importance, pollinators like bees and butterfly species are lifelines for our well-being, our food chains and our economic systems – sustaining the fruits, vegetables and seeds that feed us,” said Grethel Aguilar. “The latest European red list evaluations reveal serious challenges, with threats growing for butterflies and vital native bee varieties.”

The factors of the quick recent decreases are the continuing damage or destruction of habitats caused by farming intensification and abandoned land, draining of wetlands, excessive grazing by animals, and the use of pesticides and fertilisers including neonicotinoid chemicals. The division of environments suitable for pollinators significantly raises the danger of local extinctions.

Global heating is also revealed to be a significant danger: Fifty-two percent of all endangered butterfly species in Europe are endangered by the climate change crisis – approximately twofold the amount as a decade ago.

Nearly ninety percent of plants that flower in Europe require pollination by animals, as stated by the wild bee assessment’s lead coordinator. “Unfortunately, wild bee groups are in severe drop and cannot readily be substituted by managed bee colonies,” he said. “If wild bees die out, many wild plants might be in danger as well – of which meadows rich in flowers and beautiful orchid species are just a handful of illustrations.”

15 varieties of bumblebee types, which perform a vital function in aiding the pollination of legumes like peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and 14 types of cellophane bees, known for pollinating trees such as willow trees and red maples, are now classified as threatened. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee found only in the continent and the sole species of this biological genus in Europe, is now evaluated as critically endangered – the research category nearest to dying out in natural habitats.

Butterfly types that are exclusively located on high-altitude areas are especially at risk to global heating as they have to climb upward as their habitats become hotter but in the end have no room left. In Spain’s southern region, the grayling of Nevada and the anomalous blue of Andalusia are among above 40 percent of European endemics (only found in Europe) facing extinction.

In the Mediterranean, varieties such as the severely threatened Karpathos grayling butterfly are endangered by intense dry conditions and fires.

In the meantime, in the Arctic region, climate change is leading to the tree line to shift northward by dozens of meters each year, with bushes invading marsh and tundra. Hotter climates also mean caribou can no more cross the frozen water to graze northern grasslands and maintain them clear. Eight butterfly species are threatened with extinction in this zone, including Freyja’s fritillary butterfly and the Arctic ringlet.

“The greatest living space for all these pollinating insects is bloom-filled grassy areas and that is declining quickly across Europe because of all these reasons,” stated a lead coordinator for the butterfly assessment. “The good news is that so many people are aware now and there’s a lot more awareness. Under the EU nature restoration legislation, all participating nations have to halt the decline in pollinating species by twenty-thirty, and they are going to have to start doing something. There are property owners who are involved. We hope they can get the motivations that will support them on their way.”

As stated by Warren, there is “readily achievable actions” in terms of action for pollinators which won’t reduce crop yields – and may enhance it – such as agricultural producers establishing margins rich in flowers around their fields.

Jessika Roswall, portrayed the preservation condition of native bees, butterflies and additional pollinators as “dire”.

“Prompt and unified steps is needed to address this danger. Along with member states, the Commission of the European Union has established an European Union-wide monitoring system for pollinating species based on the EU nature restoration law, which will aid in following our progress. Now, we need to prioritize execution and partnership with participating nations to preserve our pollinating insects,” she said.

The issuance of the assessments on bees and butterflies follows the pioneering European-wide assessment of hoverflies, another essential pollinating insect category. Published in 2022, it showed that thirty-seven percent of all hoverfly varieties in Europe were at risk of extinction.