Concerning Increase in Threatened Wild Bee Varieties In Europe

The count of wild bee types in Europe experiencing disappearance has increased twofold during the previous ten-year period, while the number of threatened butterfly types has close to doubled.

This critical situation for essential pollinating species was revealed by scientific assessments for the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) red list, which established that at least one hundred seventy-two bee species out of over 1900 were threatened with extinction in Europe.

The count of butterfly species threatened with extinction in the European continent has risen from over thirty-five to over sixty since the previous assessment, performed 14 years ago. A single species, the large white of Madeira (Pieris wollastoni) has now been confirmed extinct.

In addition to their aesthetic appeal and cultural value, pollinating species like bees and butterflies are lifelines for our health, our food systems and our economies – maintaining the fruits, vegetables and seeds that nourish us,” said the IUCN’s director general. “The newest European red list assessments reveal serious challenges, with threats mounting for butterfly types and vital non-managed bee species.”

The reasons of the swift recent drops are the continuing destruction or damage of natural habitats caused by intensive agriculture and land abandonment, wetland drainage, overgrazing by livestock, and the utilization of pesticides and fertilisers including neonicotinoids. The breaking up of environments suitable for pollinators greatly increases the risk of extinctions at local level.

Global heating is also shown to be a major threat: Fifty-two percent of all threatened butterflies in Europe are threatened by the climate crisis – approximately twofold the amount as a decade ago.

Up to nine out of ten of blooming plants in the European continent rely on insect pollination, according to the lead coordinator of the wild bee assessment. “Unfortunately, wild bee groups are in severe drop and cannot readily be substituted by managed colonies,” he said. “If non-managed bees die out, many non-cultivated plants might be threatened too – of which bloom-filled grasslands and beautiful orchid species are just a couple of instances.”

Fifteen types of bumblebees, which perform a vital function in fertilizing peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and 14 types of cellophane bees, known for fertilizing trees such as willow trees and red maples, are now listed as threatened. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee species unique to the mainland and the only species of this genus in the European continent, is now assessed as critically at risk – the research category most akin to extinction in the wild.

Butterflies that are only found on mountain tops are highly susceptible to climate change as they need to move uphill as their living spaces become more heated but in the end exhaust available space. In the southern part of Spain, the grayling of Nevada and the Andalusian anomalous blue butterfly are among more than 40% of types unique to Europe (exclusive to Europe) at risk of extinction.

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

Meanwhile, in the Arctic Circle, global heating is causing the tree line to move north by tens of metres each year, with scrub taking over wetlands and tundra. Warmer conditions also mean caribou can no longer cross the ice to feed on Arctic meadows and keep them open. 8 butterfly varieties are at risk of extinction in this zone, including the fritillary of Freyja and the Arctic ringlet butterfly.

“The biggest habitat for all these pollinating species is bloom-filled grassy areas and that is disappearing very fast throughout 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 awareness. Under the European Union nature restoration law, all member countries have to halt the drop in pollinators by the year 2030, and they are going to have to initiate measures. There are land holders who are involved. We hope they can get the motivations that will support them on their way.”

According to Warren, there is “easy opportunities” in terms of steps for pollinators which won’t reduce crop yields – and could improve it – such as farmers developing bloom-filled edges around their farmland.

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

“Immediate and joint measures is necessary to tackle this threat. Together with member states, the European Commission has established an Europe-wide monitoring system for pollinators based on the European Union nature restoration legislation, which will assist in monitoring our progress. Now, we need to focus on application and cooperation with member states to preserve our pollinating species,” she said.

The publication of the bee and butterfly assessments follows the first Europe-wide study on hoverflies, another essential group of pollinators. Released in twenty-twenty-two, it disclosed that 37% of all hoverfly species in the European continent were threatened with extinction.