Alarming Increase in Endangered Non-Managed Bee Types In Europe

The count of non-managed bee varieties in European nations experiencing extinction has over doubled in the last ten years, while the total of at-risk butterfly species has close to doubled.

This pressing issue for vital pollinating insects was unveiled by research studies for the red list of threatened species, which found that at least 172 bee types out of over 1900 were facing extinction in Europe.

The count of butterflies threatened with extinction in the European continent has grown from over thirty-five to 65 since the earlier research, performed a decade and a half ago. One type, the large white of Madeira (Pieris wollastoni) has now been confirmed extinct.

Apart from their visual charm and cultural importance, pollinating insects like bees and butterflies are essential supports for our well-being, our food systems and our financial structures – sustaining the fruits, vegetables and seeds that sustain us,” said the IUCN’s director general. “The most recent European red list evaluations reveal serious challenges, with dangers increasing for butterflies and essential wild bee types.”

The factors of the swift recent drops are the ongoing damage or destruction of natural habitats caused by agricultural intensification and deserted farmland, draining wetlands, livestock overgrazing, and the application of pesticides and fertilisers including neonicotinoid pesticides. The breaking up of habitat friendly to pollinators substantially boosts the threat of local extinctions.

Global warming is also demonstrated to be a major threat: Over half of all threatened butterfly types in the European continent are endangered by the climate crisis – approximately double the number as a ten years ago.

Up to 90% of blooming plants in Europe rely on animal pollination, as per Dr Denis Michez. “Regrettably, non-managed bee colonies are in drastic decline and cannot readily be substituted by managed colonies,” he said. “If native bees vanish, many wild plants might be threatened too – of which bloom-filled grasslands and attractive orchid varieties are just a couple of instances.”

Fifteen species of bumblebee species, which perform a vital function in pollinating crops such as peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and fourteen varieties of cellophane bee species, known for pollinating trees such as willow trees and red maples, are now classified as threatened. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee species exclusive to the European continent and the single type of this biological genus in the European continent, is now evaluated as critically endangered – the scientific classification closest to extinction in the wild.

Butterflies that are solely present on mountain tops are particularly vulnerable to global warming as they must ascend higher as their environments become hotter but ultimately run out of space. In southern Spain, the grayling of Nevada and the anomalous blue of Andalusia are among above 40 percent of species endemic to Europe (solely present in Europe) threatened with extinction.

In the Mediterranean region, species such as the severely threatened grayling of Karpathos are threatened by intense dry conditions and fires.

Meanwhile, in the Arctic region, global heating is resulting in the forest boundary to move north by dozens of meters each year, with bushes invading bog and tundra. Warmer conditions also mean caribou can no more cross the ice to graze northern grasslands and maintain them clear. 8 butterfly varieties are facing extinction in this area, including Freyja’s fritillary butterfly and the Arctic ringlet butterfly.

“The greatest living space for all these pollinators is flower-rich grassland and that is declining quickly in Europe because of all these reasons,” stated one of the lead coordinators of the butterflies assessment. “The encouraging aspect is that so many people are concerned now and there’s a lot more awareness. Under the European Union nature restoration law, all member countries have to turn around the decrease in pollinators by 2030, and they are going to have to begin taking action. There are landowners who are interested. We hope they can receive the encouragements that will help them on their way.”

According to Warren, there is “readily achievable actions” in terms of measures for pollinating species which will not decrease agricultural output – and might boost it – such as farmers establishing flower-rich margins around their cultivated areas.

EU commissioner for environment, described the conservation status of non-managed bees, butterfly species and other pollinating insects as “severe”.

“Urgent and collective action is needed to confront this danger. Along with participating nations, the Commission of the European Union has established an EU-wide monitoring system for pollinating insects based on the EU nature restoration law, which will assist in monitoring our development. Now, we need to concentrate on implementation and collaboration with participating nations to protect our pollinating species,” she said.

The release of the bee and butterfly assessments follows the first European-wide evaluation of hoverflies, another essential pollinator group. Published in twenty-twenty-two, it revealed that thirty-seven percent of all hoverfly types in European nations were facing extinction.