Study finds most Europe's wild bee species declining over past century

The short version

• The Guardian reports that most of Europe's wild bee species and about half of its hover fly species have declined over the last century.[The Guardian]
• Records since 1921 show more bee species are declining than increasing in every part of Europe except the Alpine region.[The Guardian]
• Bee and hover fly species richness dropped persistently in the Atlantic and Continental regions, according to the study covering 88% of species.[The Guardian]
• Lead author Carlos Martínez-Núñez said biodiversity loss could remain hidden behind apparently stable species numbers, which he described as a crucial opportunity to act.[The Guardian]

Key facts

• The study covers 88% of bee and hover fly species across the continent.[The Guardian]
• Ninety-one percent of species logged over the last century were also recorded at least once between 2001 and 2020.[The Guardian]
• Nearly 90% of wild flowering plants and more than three-quarters of major food crop types depend in part on animal pollination.[The Guardian]
• Species richness for bees and hover flies dropped persistently in the Atlantic and Continental regions.[The Guardian]

Sources

Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.

• ‘Crucial opportunity to act’ as study finds most of Europe’s wild bee species in declineThe Guardian - World