The count of non-managed bee species in Europe facing disappearance has increased twofold over the past decade, whereas the total of at-risk butterfly species has close to doubled.
This pressing issue for crucial pollinating species was revealed by scientific studies for the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) red list, which found that at least one hundred seventy-two bee types out of 1,928 were facing extinction in Europe.
The total of butterflies threatened with extinction in Europe has grown from thirty-seven to over sixty since the previous assessment, conducted 14 years ago. One species, the Madeiran large white butterfly (Pieris wollastoni) has now been classified as extinct.
Apart from their visual charm and cultural importance, pollinators like bees and butterfly species are crucial elements for our well-being, our food systems and our economies – maintaining the fruits, veggies and seeds that nourish us,” stated the IUCN’s director general. “The newest European red list assessments reveal significant difficulties, with dangers mounting for butterfly types and vital native bee types.”
The reasons of the swift recent drops are the persistent harm or degradation of habitats caused by intensive agriculture and deserted farmland, wetland drainage, livestock overgrazing, and the application of chemical fertilisers and pesticides including neonicotinoid pesticides. The fragmentation of habitat friendly to pollinators greatly increases the danger of disappearances in specific areas.
Climate change is also demonstrated to be a significant danger: Fifty-two percent of all endangered butterfly species in Europe are imperilled by the climate change crisis – about double the number as a decade ago.
Up to 90% of blooming plants in European nations require insect pollination, as stated by the lead coordinator of the wild bee assessment. “Regrettably, native bee populations are in severe drop and cannot readily be substituted by managed colonies,” he said. “If native bees die out, many wild plants might be in danger as well – of which meadows rich in flowers and beautiful orchid species are just a few examples.”
15 varieties of bumblebee types, which play a crucial role in fertilizing crops such as peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and 14 types of cellophane bees, famous for aiding tree pollination such as willows and red maples, are now categorized as at-risk. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee type exclusive to the continent and the sole species of this genus group in Europe, is now classified as severely threatened – the scientific classification most akin to dying out in natural habitats.
Butterfly species that are solely present on mountain tops are especially at risk to climate change as they must ascend higher as their living spaces become more heated but ultimately exhaust available space. In the southern part of Spain, the Nevada grayling and the anomalous blue of Andalusia are among above 40 percent of European endemics (only found in Europe) facing extinction.
In the Mediterranean region, types such as the critically endangered Karpathos grayling are threatened by extreme drought and wildfires.
Meanwhile, in the Far North, global warming is leading to the tree line to advance northwards by many meters each year, with underbrush encroaching on wetlands and tundra. Higher temperatures also mean caribou can no longer cross the ice sheets to feed on Arctic meadows and keep them open. Eight butterfly species are facing extinction in this zone, including Freyja’s fritillary and the Arctic ringlet butterfly.
“The largest living space for all these pollinating species is bloom-filled grassy areas and that is vanishing rapidly in the European continent because of all these reasons,” remarked one of the lead coordinators of the butterflies assessment. “The good news is that so many citizens care now and there’s a lot more understanding. Under the EU’s nature restoration regulation, all member states have to halt the decrease in pollinating species by the year 2030, and they are going to have to begin taking action. There are property owners who are involved. We hope they can receive the encouragements that will help them on their way.”
According to Warren, there is “low-hanging fruit” in terms of steps for pollinating species which will not decrease crop yields – and could improve it – such as agricultural producers creating margins rich in flowers around their fields.
the EU’s environment commissioner, portrayed the protection status of wild bees, butterflies and other pollinators as “dire”.
“Immediate and joint measures is required to tackle this threat. Along with member states, the European Commission has put in place an European Union-wide observation system for pollinating insects based on the European Union nature restoration legislation, which will assist in monitoring our progress. Now, we need to prioritize implementation and collaboration with member countries to safeguard our pollinating insects,” she said.
The issuance of the assessments on bees and butterflies follows the first European-wide study on hoverflies, an additional vital group of pollinators. Published in twenty-twenty-two, it disclosed that 37% of all hoverfly types in the European continent were facing extinction.
