Worrying Rise in Threatened Non-Managed Bee Species In Europe

The count of native bee types in Europe confronting disappearance has more than doubled in the last ten years, while the number of at-risk butterfly types has almost doubled.

This critical situation for essential pollinating species was disclosed by research studies for the red list of threatened species, which found that at least one hundred seventy-two bee varieties out of 1,928 were facing extinction in Europe.

The number of butterflies threatened with extinction in Europe has risen from over thirty-five to sixty-five since the earlier research, performed a decade and a half ago. A single species, the Madeiran large white (Pieris wollastoni) has now been classified as extinct.

Apart from their aesthetic appeal and cultural value, pollinators like bees and butterflies are lifelines for our well-being, our food chains and our economies – sustaining the fruits, vegetables and seeds that feed us,” stated Grethel Aguilar. “The latest European red list evaluations reveal significant difficulties, with threats growing for butterfly types and essential native bee varieties.”

The reasons of the swift recent drops are the continuing harm or degradation of living environments caused by farming intensification and abandoned land, draining of wetlands, excessive grazing by animals, and the application of pesticides and fertilisers including neonicotinoids. The fragmentation of environments suitable for pollinators substantially boosts the threat of disappearances in specific areas.

Climate change is also demonstrated to be a major threat: Fifty-two percent of all at-risk butterfly species in the European continent are threatened by the climate change crisis – about double the number as a decade ago.

As many as nine out of ten of blooming plants in Europe require insect pollination, as stated by the wild bee assessment’s lead coordinator. “Sadly, wild bee groups are in drastic decline and cannot readily be substituted by managed bee colonies,” he said. “If native bees disappear, many native plants might be threatened too – of which flower-rich meadows and beautiful orchid species are just a few examples.”

15 varieties of bumblebee types, which perform a vital function in pollinating peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and 14 types of cellophane bees, recognized for fertilizing trees such as willows and red maples, are now categorized as at-risk. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee type exclusive to the continent and the sole species of this genus in the European continent, is now classified as critically endangered – the scientific category closest to dying out in natural habitats.

Butterflies that are exclusively located on high-altitude areas are especially at risk to global warming as they have to climb upward as their living spaces become more heated but in the end have no room left. In the southern part of Spain, the grayling of Nevada and the anomalous blue of Andalusia are among more than 40% of European endemics (exclusive to Europe) at risk of extinction.

In the Mediterranean region, types such as the highly at-risk Karpathos grayling butterfly are threatened by intense dry conditions and fires.

In the meantime, in the Arctic Circle, climate change is resulting in the timberline to advance northwards by many meters each year, with underbrush encroaching on marsh and tundra. Warmer conditions also mean reindeer can no more cross the ice sheets to browse Arctic meadows and keep them open. Eight butterfly species are threatened with extinction in this zone, including the fritillary of Freyja and the Arctic ringlet.

“The largest living space for all these pollinating species is bloom-filled grassy areas and that is disappearing very fast throughout the European continent because of all these factors,” remarked Martin Warren. “The good news is that so many people care now and there’s a lot more understanding. Under the EU nature restoration legislation, all member states have to turn around the drop in pollinating insects by 2030, and they are going to have to begin taking action. There are land holders who are involved. Let’s hope they can obtain the encouragements that will assist them on their way.”

According to Martin Warren, there is “readily achievable actions” in terms of measures for pollinators which will not lower crop yields – and could improve it – such as growers establishing margins rich in flowers around their farmland.

the EU’s environment commissioner, portrayed the protection status of native bees, butterflies and additional pollinators as “critical”.

“Urgent and collective action is needed to tackle this threat. Along with member countries, the Commission of the European Union has established an Europe-wide monitoring system for pollinators based on the European Union nature restoration legislation, which will aid in following our development. Now, we need to prioritize execution and cooperation with member states to safeguard our pollinating insects,” she said.

The issuance of the bee and butterfly assessments follows the initial EU-wide assessment of hoverflies, an additional crucial pollinating insect category. Released in 2022, it showed that thirty-seven percent of all hoverfly varieties in the European continent were threatened with extinction.