Concerning Surge in At-Risk Native Bee Varieties Across the European Continent
The total of wild bee species in European nations experiencing extinction has increased twofold in the last ten years, whereas the total of at-risk butterfly types has close to doubled.
This pressing issue for crucial pollinating species was revealed by scientific studies for the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) red list, which found that at least 172 bee varieties out of over 1900 were threatened with extinction in the European continent.
The number of butterfly species threatened with extinction in Europe has grown from 37 to over sixty since the earlier research, carried out a decade and a half ago. One species, the Madeiran large white butterfly (Pieris wollastoni) has now been confirmed extinct.
Apart from their beauty and cultural significance, pollinating species like bees and butterflies are lifelines for our well-being, our food systems and our economic systems – supporting the produce, vegetables and seeds that sustain us,” stated the IUCN’s director general. “The latest assessments of the European red list reveal serious challenges, with threats mounting for butterfly species and vital non-managed bee species.”
The reasons of the swift recent drops are the ongoing destruction or damage of natural habitats caused by agricultural intensification and deserted farmland, draining wetlands, overgrazing by livestock, and the application of pesticides and fertilisers including neonicotinoid pesticides. The fragmentation of habitat friendly to pollinators substantially boosts the risk of local extinctions.
Global heating is also shown to be a primary risk: 52% of all threatened butterfly species in European nations are imperilled by the climate crisis – about twofold the amount as a previous decade.
As many as 90% of flowering plants in the European continent require pollination by animals, according to the wild bee assessment’s lead coordinator. “Unfortunately, wild bee populations are in severe drop and are not easily replaceable by domesticated hives,” he said. “If native bees disappear, many native plants might be in danger as well – of which meadows rich in flowers and attractive orchid varieties are just a handful of illustrations.”
Fifteen species of bumblebees, which play a crucial role in pollinating legumes like peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and 14 types of cellophane bee species, known for pollinating trees such as willows along with red maples, are now classified as threatened. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee species unique to the continent and the single type of this biological genus in European nations, is now evaluated as severely threatened – the scientific category most akin to extinction in the wild.
Butterfly types that are exclusively located on high-altitude areas are especially at risk to global warming as they need to move uphill as their environments become hotter but eventually run out of space. In the southern part of Spain, the Nevada grayling and the anomalous blue of Andalusia are among above 40 percent of types unique to Europe (exclusive to Europe) facing extinction.
In the Mediterranean area, varieties such as the critically endangered Karpathos grayling butterfly are threatened by extreme dry conditions and fires.
Meanwhile, in the Arctic Circle, global warming is causing the forest boundary to advance northwards by dozens of meters each year, with scrub invading bog and tundra. Higher temperatures also mean reindeer can no more cross the frozen water to feed on Arctic grasslands and keep them open. Eight butterfly species are threatened with extinction in this area, including the fritillary of Freyja and the Arctic ringlet.
“The biggest habitat for all these pollinating species is bloom-filled grassy areas and that is vanishing rapidly across European nations because of all these reasons,” stated Martin Warren. “The encouraging aspect is that so many people care now and there’s a lot more consciousness. Under the EU nature restoration legislation, all member countries have to reverse the decrease in pollinators by 2030, and they are going to have to start doing something. There are property owners who are interested. Let’s hope they can get the motivations that will support them on their way.”
According to Warren, there is “low-hanging fruit” in terms of measures for pollinators which will not decrease agricultural output – and may enhance it – such as agricultural producers developing flower-rich margins around their fields.
the EU’s environment commissioner, described the protection status of non-managed bees, butterfly species and other pollinating insects as “critical”.
“Prompt and unified steps is necessary to address this danger. In collaboration with member states, the Commission of the European Union has implemented an Europe-wide tracking system for pollinating species based on the EU nature restoration law, which will help to track our progress. Now, we need to focus on application and collaboration with member countries to safeguard our pollinators,” she said.
The release of the evaluations of bees along with butterflies is subsequent to the first European-wide assessment of hoverflies, another vital pollinating insect category. Published in 2022, it disclosed that 37% of all hoverfly types in Europe were facing extinction.
