Alarming Increase in Threatened Wild Bee Types Across Europe
The number of wild bee varieties in Europe experiencing dying out has increased twofold over the past decade, while the count of endangered butterfly has close to doubled.
This dire scenario for crucial pollinating insects was unveiled by research studies for the IUCN red list, which found that at least over 170 bee varieties out of nearly two thousand were facing extinction in Europe.
The number of butterflies threatened with extinction in the European continent has grown from over thirty-five to over sixty since the previous assessment, conducted a decade and a half ago. A single species, the Madeiran large white (Pieris wollastoni) has now been classified as extinct.
Apart from their visual charm and cultural importance, pollinating insects like bees and butterflies are lifelines for our physical condition, our food systems and our economic systems – maintaining the fruits, vegetables and seeds that nourish us,” commented the IUCN director general. “The newest assessments of the European red list reveal major obstacles, with dangers increasing for butterfly types and crucial non-managed bee types.”
The causes of the quick recent decreases are the persistent damage or destruction of living environments caused by agricultural intensification and abandoned land, draining wetlands, excessive grazing by animals, and the application of chemical fertilisers and pesticides including neonicotinoid chemicals. The breaking up of pollinator-friendly habitat significantly raises the danger of extinctions at local level.
Global warming is also demonstrated to be a significant danger: Fifty-two percent of all at-risk butterfly types in European nations are endangered by the climate crisis – about twofold the amount as a previous decade.
Up to nine out of ten of flowering plants in the European continent require pollination by animals, according to the lead coordinator of the wild bee assessment. “Regrettably, native bee groups are in sharp decrease and cannot readily be substituted by domesticated hives,” he said. “If non-managed bees vanish, many non-cultivated plants might be in danger as well – of which flower-rich meadows and lovely orchid types are just a few examples.”
15 varieties of bumblebees, which have an essential part in pollinating legumes like peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and 14 types of cellophane bees, known for aiding tree pollination such as willows and red maples, are now listed as threatened. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee type found only in the mainland and the single type of this genus in European nations, is now classified as critically endangered – the scientific category nearest to extinction in the wild.
Butterflies that are only found on high-altitude areas are especially at risk to climate change as they need to move uphill as their habitats become warmer but eventually run out of space. In Spain’s southern region, the Nevada grayling and the Andalusian anomalous blue butterfly are among above 40 percent of types unique to Europe (only found in Europe) threatened with extinction.
In the Mediterranean, varieties such as the highly at-risk grayling of Karpathos are threatened by severe wildfires and drought.
Meanwhile, in the Far North, global warming is resulting in the tree line to move north by many meters each year, with bushes taking over wetlands and tundra. Higher temperatures also mean caribou can no more cross the ice to feed on Arctic meadows and keep them open. 8 butterfly varieties are at risk of extinction in this zone, including the fritillary of Freyja and the ringlet of the Arctic.
“The greatest environment for all these pollinating insects is bloom-filled grassy areas and that is declining quickly across the European continent because of all these elements,” said a lead coordinator for the butterfly assessment. “The encouraging aspect is that so many citizens care now and there’s a lot more awareness. Under the European Union nature restoration law, all member countries have to reverse the decrease in pollinating insects by twenty-thirty, and they are going to have to start doing something. There are land holders who are involved. We hope they can get the motivations that will assist them on their way.”
As per the coordinator, there is “easy opportunities” in terms of action for pollinators which will not decrease food production – and may enhance it – such as agricultural producers creating bloom-filled edges around their farmland.
the EU’s environment commissioner, portrayed the conservation status of wild bees, butterflies and other pollinators as “dire”.
“Urgent and collective action is needed to tackle this risk. Together with member states, the Commission of the European Union has implemented an EU-wide monitoring system for pollinating insects based on the EU nature restoration regulation, which will aid in following our advancement. Now, we need to focus on application and cooperation with member countries to preserve our pollinators,” she said.
The issuance of the bee and butterfly assessments follows the first European-wide study on hoverflies, another essential pollinator group. Issued in twenty-twenty-two, it showed that thirty-seven percent of all hoverfly types in Europe were threatened with extinction.
