The number of non-managed bee types in the European continent facing dying out has increased twofold over the past decade, while the number of endangered butterfly species has close to doubled.
This critical situation for vital pollinating species was disclosed by scientific assessments for the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) red list, which determined that at least one hundred seventy-two bee varieties out of nearly two thousand were at risk of extinction in the European continent.
The number of butterflies threatened with extinction in Europe has risen from over thirty-five to 65 since the earlier research, carried out over a decade past. One type, the Madeiran large white butterfly (Pieris wollastoni) has now been confirmed extinct.
In addition to their visual charm and cultural importance, pollinating insects like bees and butterflies are essential supports for our well-being, our food chains and our economic systems – maintaining the fruits, vegetables and seeds that feed us,” commented Grethel Aguilar. “The latest European red list assessments reveal significant difficulties, with dangers growing for butterfly species and crucial wild bee varieties.”
The causes of the swift recent drops are the persistent harm or degradation of natural habitats caused by intensive agriculture and deserted farmland, wetland drainage, livestock overgrazing, and the use of pesticides and fertilisers including neonicotinoids. The breaking up of environments suitable for pollinators greatly increases the danger of local extinctions.
Climate change is also revealed to be a primary risk: Fifty-two percent of all threatened butterfly species in Europe are endangered by the climate emergency – about twofold the amount as a decade ago.
Nearly 90% 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 drastic decline and cannot readily be substituted by managed bee colonies,” he said. “If native bees disappear, many wild plants might be in danger as well – of which flower-rich meadows and beautiful orchid species are just a couple of instances.”
Fifteen species of bumblebees, which perform a vital function in pollinating legumes like peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and 14 species of cellophane bee types, recognized for aiding tree pollination such as willow trees and red maples, are now classified as threatened. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee species exclusive to the continent and the sole species of this genus in European nations, is now evaluated as critically at risk – the research category nearest to dying out in natural habitats.
Butterfly types that are solely present on mountain peaks are highly susceptible to global warming as they must ascend higher as their living spaces become warmer but in the end have no room left. In the southern part of Spain, the grayling of Nevada and the Andalusian anomalous blue are among over forty percent of types unique to Europe (solely present in Europe) at risk of extinction.
In the Mediterranean region, types such as the critically endangered Karpathos grayling butterfly are threatened by extreme drought and wildfires.
At the same time, in the Arctic region, global heating is leading to the timberline to advance northwards by dozens of meters each year, with bushes taking over wetlands and tundra. Warmer conditions also mean Arctic deer can not anymore cross the ice sheets to browse Arctic meadows and keep them open. Eight butterfly species are threatened with extinction in this zone, including the fritillary of Freyja and the ringlet of the Arctic.
“The largest habitat for all these pollinating insects is grassland rich in flowers and that is vanishing rapidly throughout European nations because of all these elements,” stated a lead coordinator for the butterfly assessment. “The good news is that so many individuals care now and there’s a lot more understanding. Under the EU’s nature restoration regulation, all member countries have to halt the decline in pollinators by 2030, and they are going to have to start doing something. There are land holders who are involved. We hope they can get the encouragements that will help them on their way.”
As per Warren, there is “readily achievable actions” in terms of measures for pollinating insects which will not decrease food production – and may enhance it – such as farmers creating margins rich in flowers around their cultivated areas.
EU commissioner for environment, portrayed the protection status of wild bees, butterflies and other pollinators as “severe”.
“Urgent and collective action is needed to tackle this danger. Along with member countries, the EU Commission has established an EU-wide observation system for pollinators based on the EU nature restoration regulation, which will aid in following our progress. Now, we need to concentrate on execution and partnership with member states to protect our pollinators,” she said.
The release of the evaluations of bees along with butterflies follows the first Europe-wide evaluation of hoverflies, an additional crucial pollinator group. Published in 2022, it showed that 37% of all hoverfly varieties in European nations were threatened with extinction.
