Concerning Rise in At-Risk Wild Bee Varieties Throughout Europe
The number of native bee types in European nations facing disappearance has over doubled over the past decade, while the number of endangered butterfly species has nearly doubled.
This dire scenario for essential pollinating species was revealed by scientific assessments for the IUCN red list, which determined that at least one hundred seventy-two bee species out of 1,928 were facing extinction in the European continent.
The total of butterfly types facing extinction in European nations has risen from over thirty-five to sixty-five since the last study, performed 14 years ago. One species, the Madeiran large white butterfly (Pieris wollastoni) has now been declared extinct.
Apart from their visual charm and cultural importance, pollinating species like bees and butterfly species are lifelines for our well-being, our food chains and our financial structures – supporting the produce, vegetables and seeds that sustain us,” commented the IUCN director general. “The most recent European red list assessments reveal significant difficulties, with threats growing for butterfly types and essential native bee varieties.”
The causes of the quick recent decreases are the persistent destruction or damage of natural habitats caused by agricultural intensification and land abandonment, wetland drainage, overgrazing by livestock, and the application of pesticides and fertilisers including neonicotinoid pesticides. The breaking up of environments suitable for pollinators significantly raises the risk of local extinctions.
Climate change is also demonstrated to be a major threat: 52% of all at-risk butterfly species in European nations are endangered by the climate change crisis – approximately double the number as a previous decade.
Up to ninety percent of plants that flower in Europe depend on pollination by animals, according to the lead coordinator of the wild bee assessment. “Unfortunately, native bee groups are in severe drop and cannot readily be substituted by managed colonies,” he said. “If wild bees disappear, many non-cultivated plants might be threatened too – of which flower-rich meadows and beautiful orchid species are just a few examples.”
15 varieties of bumblebees, which have an essential part in aiding the pollination of crops such as peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and 14 species of cellophane bees, known for fertilizing 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 genus in the European continent, is now assessed as severely threatened – the scientific category nearest to disappearance in the wild.
Butterflies that are exclusively located on mountain tops are highly susceptible to global heating as they need to move uphill as their environments become warmer but ultimately exhaust available space. In Spain’s southern region, the grayling of Nevada and the Andalusian anomalous blue are among above 40 percent of species endemic to Europe (solely present in Europe) threatened with extinction.
In the Mediterranean area, types such as the highly at-risk grayling of Karpathos are endangered by intense dry conditions and fires.
Meanwhile, in the Far North, climate change is leading to the tree line to shift northward by many meters each year, with underbrush taking over bog and tundra. Higher temperatures also mean Arctic deer can not anymore cross the frozen water to feed on northern grasslands and maintain them clear. Eight butterfly species are at risk of extinction in this region, including Freyja’s fritillary and the Arctic ringlet.
“The biggest living space for all these pollinating species is bloom-filled grassy areas and that is declining quickly throughout Europe because of all these elements,” said Martin Warren. “The encouraging aspect is that so many individuals are concerned now and there’s a lot more consciousness. Under the EU nature restoration legislation, all member states have to halt the decrease in pollinators by 2030, and they are going to have to start doing something. There are property owners who are involved. Let’s hope they can obtain 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 will not decrease crop yields – and may enhance it – such as agricultural producers creating margins rich in flowers around their cultivated areas.
EU commissioner for environment, described the preservation condition of native bees, butterflies and additional pollinators as “dire”.
“Prompt and unified steps is required to confront this risk. In collaboration with member countries, the Commission of the European Union has put in place an Europe-wide observation system for pollinators based on the EU nature restoration regulation, which will aid in following our progress. Now, we need to concentrate on application and partnership with participating nations to safeguard our pollinating species,” she said.
The publication of the evaluations of bees along with butterflies comes after the first Europe-wide study on hoverflies, an additional vital group of pollinators. Published in 2022, it showed that 37% of all hoverfly types in European nations were at risk of extinction.
