Worrying Surge in Threatened Wild Bee Species In European Nations

The count of wild bee types in European nations facing disappearance has over doubled over the past decade, whereas the count of endangered butterfly has almost doubled.

This pressing issue for crucial pollinating species was revealed by research studies for the red list of threatened species, which determined that at least over 170 bee varieties out of over 1900 were at risk of extinction in Europe.

The count of butterfly species facing extinction in European nations has grown from 37 to sixty-five since the last study, performed a decade and a half ago. A single species, the large white of Madeira (Pieris wollastoni) has now been confirmed extinct.

Apart from their aesthetic appeal and cultural significance, pollinating species like bees and butterfly species are lifelines for our physical condition, our food systems and our financial structures – maintaining the fruits, veggies and seeds that feed us,” said Grethel Aguilar. “The most recent European red list assessments reveal major obstacles, with risks growing for butterfly species and essential non-managed bee species.”

The factors of the quick recent decreases are the ongoing destruction or damage of living environments caused by farming intensification and land abandonment, draining of wetlands, overgrazing by livestock, and the application of pesticides and fertilisers including neonicotinoid pesticides. The division of environments suitable for pollinators greatly increases the risk of extinctions at local level.

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

Nearly ninety percent of flowering plants in European nations depend on insect pollination, as per Dr Denis Michez. “Unfortunately, native bee colonies are in drastic decline and cannot be easily replaced by managed bee colonies,” he said. “If native bees disappear, many non-cultivated plants might be at risk too – of which flower-rich meadows and attractive orchid varieties are just a couple of instances.”

15 varieties of bumblebees, which have an essential part in pollinating legumes like peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and fourteen varieties of cellophane bee types, known for pollinating trees such as willow trees and red maples, are now listed as threatened. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee unique to the mainland and the single type of this biological genus in European nations, is now evaluated as critically at risk – the research category nearest to dying out in natural habitats.

Butterfly species that are solely present on high-altitude areas are highly susceptible to global warming as they need to move uphill as their living spaces become hotter but in the end exhaust available space. In Spain’s southern region, the Nevada grayling and the Andalusian anomalous blue butterfly are among above 40 percent of species endemic to Europe (exclusive to Europe) at risk of extinction.

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

In the meantime, in the Arctic region, global warming is leading to the forest boundary to move north by tens of metres each year, with scrub taking over bog and tundra. Higher temperatures also mean caribou can no longer cross the ice sheets to feed on Arctic grasslands and maintain them clear. Eight butterfly species are threatened with extinction in this region, including Freyja’s fritillary and the Arctic ringlet butterfly.

“The biggest living space for all these pollinators is bloom-filled grassy areas and that is vanishing rapidly in European nations because of all these reasons,” said one of the lead coordinators of the butterflies assessment. “The encouraging aspect is that so many individuals are concerned now and there’s a lot more awareness. Under the EU’s nature restoration regulation, all participating nations have to reverse the drop in pollinators by twenty-thirty, and they are going to have to start doing something. There are property owners who are engaged. We hope they can obtain the encouragements that will support them on their way.”

According to Warren, there is “low-hanging fruit” in terms of measures for pollinating insects which will not lower food production – and might boost it – such as agricultural producers developing flower-rich margins around their cultivated areas.

Jessika Roswall, described the conservation status of non-managed bees, butterfly species and other pollinating insects as “critical”.

“Immediate and joint measures is needed to tackle this risk. Along with member countries, the Commission of the European Union has established an European Union-wide tracking system for pollinators based on the European Union nature restoration legislation, which will aid in following our progress. Now, we need to prioritize application and collaboration with member countries to protect our pollinating insects,” she said.

The issuance of the assessments on bees and butterflies is subsequent to the initial European-wide evaluation of hoverflies, another essential pollinating insect category. Released in twenty-twenty-two, it showed that 37% of all hoverfly types in Europe were threatened with extinction.