Worrying Increase in Endangered Wild Bee Species Across the European Continent

The count of native bee types in Europe facing disappearance has more than doubled in the last ten years, while the total of endangered butterfly species has close to doubled.

This dire scenario for essential pollinating insects was unveiled by scientific studies for the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) red list, which established that at least one hundred seventy-two bee species out of nearly two thousand were facing extinction in European nations.

The count of butterfly types threatened with extinction in European nations has increased from over thirty-five to over sixty since the earlier research, conducted 14 years ago. One type, the Madeiran large white (Pieris wollastoni) has now been declared extinct.

In addition to their visual charm and cultural importance, pollinating species like bees and butterflies are crucial elements for our well-being, our food systems and our economies – supporting the fruits, veggies and seeds that nourish us,” stated the IUCN’s director general. “The latest assessments of the European red list reveal serious challenges, with dangers mounting for butterfly types and essential wild bee species.”

The causes of the rapid recent declines are the continuing harm or degradation of living environments caused by farming intensification and deserted farmland, draining wetlands, overgrazing by livestock, and the use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides including neonicotinoid pesticides. The breaking up of pollinator-friendly habitat significantly raises the risk of disappearances in specific areas.

Global warming is also demonstrated to be a significant danger: Fifty-two percent of all endangered butterfly types in Europe are imperilled by the climate crisis – roughly twice as many as a decade ago.

As many as 90% of flowering plants in European nations depend on animal pollination, according to Dr Denis Michez. “Unfortunately, native bee populations are in drastic decline and cannot be easily replaced by managed colonies,” he said. “If non-managed bees disappear, many native plants might be at risk too – of which flower-rich meadows and attractive orchid varieties are just a couple of instances.”

Fifteen types of bumblebee species, which perform a vital function in pollinating legumes like peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and 14 types of cellophane bee species, famous for aiding tree pollination such as willows along with red maples, are now listed as threatened. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee species exclusive to the continent and the single type of this biological genus in Europe, is now assessed as critically at risk – the scientific classification most akin to dying out in natural habitats.

Butterflies that are only found on mountain tops are especially at risk to global warming as they need to move uphill as their environments become more heated but eventually have no room left. In Spain’s southern region, the grayling of Nevada and the Andalusian anomalous blue are among more than 40% of types unique to Europe (solely present in Europe) at risk of extinction.

In the Mediterranean, varieties such as the critically endangered grayling of Karpathos are threatened by severe dry conditions and fires.

At the same time, in the Arctic region, global heating is leading to the tree line to shift northward by dozens of meters each year, with bushes invading bog and tundra. Higher temperatures also mean caribou can no longer cross the ice sheets to browse Arctic grasslands and maintain them clear. 8 butterfly varieties are facing extinction in this region, including the fritillary of Freyja and the Arctic ringlet butterfly.

“The largest habitat for all these pollinators is bloom-filled grassy areas and that is disappearing very fast throughout Europe because of all these elements,” said Martin Warren. “The good news is that so many people care now and there’s a lot more consciousness. Under the EU’s nature restoration regulation, all member states have to halt the drop in pollinating species by the year 2030, and they are going to have to initiate measures. There are landowners who are interested. Let’s hope they can obtain the incentives that will help them on their way.”

According to Martin Warren, there is “low-hanging fruit” in terms of measures for pollinating insects which will not decrease crop yields – and may enhance it – such as agricultural producers creating bloom-filled edges around their farmland.

Jessika Roswall, characterized the protection status of wild bees, butterflies and other pollinators as “critical”.

“Immediate and joint measures is needed to address this threat. In collaboration with participating nations, the European Commission has implemented an European Union-wide monitoring system for pollinating insects based on the EU nature restoration regulation, which will assist in monitoring our progress. Now, we need to prioritize application and partnership with member countries to protect our pollinating insects,” she said.

The issuance of the bee and butterfly assessments follows the pioneering EU-wide assessment of hoverflies, an additional essential pollinating insect category. Published in 2022, it showed that over one-third of all hoverfly species in the European continent were at risk of extinction.