Worrying Surge in Endangered Non-Managed Bee Types In European Nations

The total of non-managed bee species in the European continent confronting disappearance has increased twofold in the last ten years, whereas the total of at-risk butterfly has close to doubled.

This pressing issue for vital pollinators was revealed by scientific assessments for the IUCN red list, which determined that at least over 170 bee varieties out of 1,928 were at risk of extinction in European nations.

The number of butterfly types threatened with extinction in European nations has risen from 37 to sixty-five since the last study, carried out 14 years ago. One species, the large white of Madeira (Pieris wollastoni) has now been confirmed extinct.

Apart from their aesthetic appeal and cultural value, pollinating species like bees and butterflies are lifelines for our health, our food systems and our economies – sustaining the fruits, veggies and seeds that feed us,” stated the IUCN’s director general. “The latest European red list evaluations reveal significant difficulties, with threats increasing for butterflies and crucial non-managed bee varieties.”

The reasons of the quick recent decreases are the continuing damage or destruction of natural habitats caused by farming intensification and abandoned land, draining of wetlands, overgrazing by livestock, and the application of pesticides and fertilisers including neonicotinoid chemicals. The fragmentation of environments suitable for pollinators significantly raises the threat of local extinctions.

Climate change is also demonstrated to be a significant danger: 52% of all at-risk butterfly species in the European continent are endangered by the climate change crisis – approximately twofold the amount as a ten years ago.

Nearly nine out of ten of plants that flower in Europe require animal pollination, as stated by the wild bee assessment’s lead coordinator. “Unfortunately, non-managed bee groups are in drastic decline and cannot readily be substituted by domesticated hives,” he said. “If non-managed bees disappear, many non-cultivated plants might be threatened too – of which meadows rich in flowers and beautiful orchid species are just a handful of illustrations.”

Fifteen species of bumblebees, which perform a vital function in pollinating crops such as peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and 14 species of cellophane bee species, famous for aiding tree pollination such as willow trees and red maples, are now listed as threatened. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee type unique to the continent and the only species of this genus in the European continent, is now evaluated as severely threatened – the research category nearest to extinction in the wild.

Butterfly types that are only found on mountain peaks are highly susceptible to global warming as they must ascend higher as their living spaces become warmer but ultimately exhaust available space. In southern Spain, the Nevada grayling butterfly and the Andalusian anomalous blue butterfly are among above 40 percent of types unique to Europe (exclusive to Europe) at risk of extinction.

In the Mediterranean area, types such as the severely threatened grayling of Karpathos are imperilled by intense drought and wildfires.

Meanwhile, in the Far North, global heating is resulting in the forest boundary to shift northward by tens of metres each year, with scrub taking over marsh and tundra. Hotter climates also mean caribou can no more cross the frozen water to graze Arctic grasslands and prevent them from overgrowing. Eight types of butterflies are facing extinction in this region, including the fritillary of Freyja and the Arctic ringlet butterfly.

“The greatest environment for all these pollinating insects is bloom-filled grassy areas and that is declining quickly throughout the European continent because of all these factors,” said Martin Warren. “The good news is that so many individuals care now and there’s a lot more awareness. Under the EU’s nature restoration regulation, all participating nations have to halt the decrease in pollinating insects by 2030, and they are going to have to start doing something. There are landowners who are engaged. Let’s hope they can get the incentives that will support them on their way.”

As stated by Warren, there is “easy opportunities” in terms of measures for pollinators which will not decrease food production – and may enhance it – such as agricultural producers establishing flower-rich margins around their fields.

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

“Urgent and collective action is necessary to confront this risk. Together with member countries, the EU Commission has implemented an Europe-wide monitoring system for pollinating insects based on the European Union nature restoration legislation, which will assist in monitoring our development. Now, we need to concentrate on execution and partnership with member countries to safeguard our pollinating insects,” she said.

The release of the bee and butterfly assessments follows the initial European-wide evaluation of hoverflies, an additional crucial pollinating insect category. Released in 2022, it revealed that over one-third of all hoverfly species in Europe were threatened with extinction.