The number of wild bee species in Europe at risk of extinction has significantly increased. Over the past decade, the rate has more than doubled, according to recent scientific studies. Similarly, the number of endangered butterfly species has almost doubled. These findings come from studies for the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) red list of threatened species.
Experts found that at least 172 out of 1,928 wild bee species in Europe are now at risk of extinction. For butterflies, the number of threatened species has risen from 37 to 65 since the last study 14 years ago. Sadly, one species, the Madeiran large white butterfly, has been declared extinct.
Grethel Aguilar, the IUCN director general, highlighted the importance of pollinators. “Beyond their beauty and cultural significance, pollinators like bees and butterflies are lifelines for our health, our food systems and our economies – sustaining the fruits, vegetables and seeds that nourish us,” she stated. She added that the latest assessments show serious challenges and mounting threats for these vital species.
The main reasons for these rapid declines are clear. Habitat destruction and damage play a big role. This includes intensive farming practices and land being abandoned. Draining wetlands, overgrazing by livestock, and the use of fertilisers and pesticides like neonicotinoids also contribute to the problem. When habitats that support pollinators become fragmented, the risk of local extinctions increases.
Global heating is also a major threat. Around 52% of all endangered butterflies in Europe are now imperilled by the climate crisis. This is about twice as many as were threatened a decade ago.
Dr. Denis Michez, a lead coordinator for the wild bee assessment, explained that up to 90% of flowering plants in Europe depend on animal pollination. “Sadly, wild bee populations are in drastic decline and cannot be easily replaced by managed colonies,” he warned. “If wild bees disappear, many wild plants might be at risk too – of which flower-rich meadows and beautiful orchid species are just a few examples.”
Specific groups are feeling the impact. Fifteen species of bumblebee, which are crucial for pollinating crops like peas, beans, and peanuts, are now listed as threatened. Also, 14 species of cellophane bee, important for pollinating trees like willows and red maples, face the same classification.
A mining bee called Simpanurgus phyllopodus, found only in Europe, is now critically endangered, which is the category closest to extinction in the wild.
Butterflies living on mountaintops are particularly vulnerable to climate change. As their habitats warm up, they need to move higher up mountains. However, they eventually run out of space.
In southern Spain, species like the Nevada grayling and the Andalusian anomalous blue are among the more than 40% of European endemic species (found only in Europe) that are threatened. In the Mediterranean, extreme drought and wildfires put species like the critically endangered Karpathos grayling at risk.
In the Arctic Circle, warmer conditions are changing the landscape. The tree line is moving north, and scrub is covering bog and tundra areas. Warmer weather also prevents reindeer from crossing ice to graze, which helps keep Arctic grasslands open.
Martin Warren, a lead coordinator for the butterfly assessment, noted that flower-rich grassland is the primary habitat for pollinators and is disappearing rapidly due to these factors. “The positive thing is that so many people care now and there’s a lot more awareness,” he said. He pointed to EU nature restoration legislation, which requires member states to reverse pollinator declines by 2030.
“There are landowners who are interested. Let’s hope they can get the incentives that will help them on their way,” Warren added. He believes there are simple actions that can help pollinators without harming food production, such as farmers creating flower-rich borders around their fields.
Jessika Roswall, EU commissioner for environment, described the situation for wild bees, butterflies, and other pollinators as “dire”. “Urgent and collective action is needed to tackle this threat,” she stated. The EU is working on a monitoring system to track progress and is focusing on cooperation with member states to protect these essential creatures.
These assessments follow a 2022 report on hoverflies, another important pollinator group, which found that 37% of European hoverfly species were threatened with extinction.