Concerning Increase in Threatened Non-Managed Bee Species In European Nations

The count of non-managed bee varieties in the European continent facing disappearance has over doubled during the previous ten-year period, and the total of threatened butterfly species has close to doubled.

This pressing issue for essential pollinating species was disclosed by scientific assessments for the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) red list, which established that at least over 170 bee species out of 1,928 were at risk of extinction in European nations.

The number of butterfly species threatened with extinction in European nations has increased from thirty-seven to sixty-five since the last study, carried out a decade and a half ago. A single species, the Madeiran large white (Pieris wollastoni) has now been declared extinct.

In addition to their beauty and cultural significance, pollinating species like bees and butterflies are essential supports for our health, our food supplies and our economic systems – maintaining the fruits, veggies and seeds that sustain us,” stated the IUCN director general. “The newest European red list assessments reveal serious challenges, with dangers mounting for butterfly types and essential native bee species.”

The causes of the rapid recent declines are the continuing damage or destruction of habitats caused by intensive agriculture and land abandonment, draining of wetlands, overgrazing by livestock, and the use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides including neonicotinoid pesticides. The breaking up of habitat friendly to pollinators substantially boosts the threat of local extinctions.

Global heating is also revealed to be a major threat: Over half of all at-risk butterfly types in Europe are threatened by the climate crisis – about double the number as a previous decade.

Up to 90% of plants that flower in the European continent rely on animal pollination, according to the wild bee assessment’s lead coordinator. “Sadly, non-managed bee populations are in drastic decline and are not easily replaceable by domesticated hives,” he said. “If native bees vanish, many non-cultivated plants might be at risk too – of which bloom-filled grasslands and lovely orchid types are just a handful of illustrations.”

Fifteen types of bumblebees, which play a crucial role in pollinating legumes like peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and fourteen varieties of cellophane bees, famous for pollinating trees such as willows and red maples, are now categorized as at-risk. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee type exclusive to the mainland and the sole species of this biological genus in the European continent, is now evaluated as critically endangered – the scientific classification most akin to dying out in natural habitats.

Butterflies that are exclusively located on mountain peaks are highly susceptible to global warming as they must ascend higher as their environments become hotter but eventually run out of space. In southern Spain, the grayling of Nevada and the anomalous blue of Andalusia are among over forty percent of European endemics (solely present in Europe) facing extinction.

In the Mediterranean region, types such as the critically endangered Karpathos grayling butterfly are threatened by extreme wildfires and drought.

Meanwhile, in the Arctic region, climate change is leading to the tree line to move north by dozens of meters each year, with bushes taking over wetlands and tundra. Higher temperatures also mean caribou can no longer cross the ice sheets to browse Arctic grasslands and maintain them clear. Eight types of butterflies are at risk of extinction in this region, including the fritillary of Freyja and the Arctic ringlet butterfly.

“The biggest habitat for all these pollinating insects is bloom-filled grassy areas and that is declining quickly across the European continent because of all these factors,” remarked a lead coordinator for the butterfly assessment. “The good news is that so many individuals are concerned now and there’s a lot more awareness. Under the EU’s nature restoration regulation, all member countries have to halt the decrease in pollinating species by 2030, and they are going to have to initiate measures. There are property owners who are engaged. We hope they can get the encouragements that will help them on their way.”

As per Warren, there is “readily achievable actions” in terms of action for pollinating species which won’t reduce food production – and could improve it – such as farmers establishing bloom-filled edges around their fields.

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

“Immediate and joint measures is necessary to tackle this threat. In collaboration with participating nations, the European Commission has put in place an EU-wide observation system for pollinators based on the EU nature restoration law, which will aid in following our progress. Now, we need to concentrate on implementation and collaboration with member states to preserve our pollinating insects,” she said.

The publication of the assessments on bees and butterflies follows the pioneering EU-wide study on hoverflies, an additional crucial pollinator group. Issued in 2022, it showed that 37% of all hoverfly varieties in the European continent were threatened with extinction.