The number of wild bee types in European nations facing extinction has over doubled over the past decade, and the number of endangered butterfly has close to doubled.
This pressing issue for crucial pollinating species was disclosed by scientific assessments for the IUCN red list, which established 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 the European continent has grown from thirty-seven to sixty-five since the last study, conducted over a decade past. One type, the Madeiran large white butterfly (Pieris wollastoni) has now been classified as extinct.
Apart from their visual charm and cultural value, pollinating insects like bees along with butterflies are crucial elements for our physical condition, our food systems and our economic systems – maintaining the fruits, vegetables and seeds that feed us,” said Grethel Aguilar. “The newest European red list evaluations reveal serious challenges, with dangers mounting for butterfly species and vital wild bee types.”
The reasons of the quick recent decreases are the continuing harm or degradation of habitats caused by agricultural intensification and deserted farmland, wetland drainage, overgrazing by livestock, and the use of pesticides and fertilisers including neonicotinoids. The breaking up of environments suitable for pollinators greatly increases the threat of disappearances in specific areas.
Global heating is also shown to be a major threat: Fifty-two percent of all at-risk butterflies in Europe are threatened by the climate crisis – roughly double the number as a ten years ago.
As many as 90% of blooming plants in Europe rely on animal pollination, according to Dr Denis Michez. “Unfortunately, non-managed bee colonies are in drastic decline and cannot be easily replaced by managed colonies,” he said. “If non-managed bees die out, many native plants might be threatened too – of which meadows rich in flowers and beautiful orchid species are just a handful of illustrations.”
Fifteen species of bumblebee types, which play a crucial role in fertilizing peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and fourteen varieties of cellophane bees, famous for aiding tree pollination such as willows and red maples, are now classified as threatened. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee type unique to the European continent and the single type of this genus in Europe, is now classified as critically endangered – the research category nearest to extinction in the wild.
Butterfly species that are solely present on mountain tops are particularly vulnerable to global warming as they need to move uphill as their environments become hotter but ultimately run out of space. In the southern part of Spain, the Nevada grayling and the Andalusian anomalous blue butterfly are among above 40 percent of species endemic to Europe (solely present in Europe) facing extinction.
In the Mediterranean, species such as the highly at-risk grayling of Karpathos are endangered by severe drought and wildfires.
At the same time, in the Arctic Circle, climate change is resulting in the forest boundary to advance northwards by tens of metres each year, with bushes taking over marsh and tundra. Hotter climates also mean reindeer can not anymore cross the ice to browse Arctic meadows and maintain them clear. Eight types of butterflies are at risk of extinction in this zone, including the fritillary of Freyja and the Arctic ringlet.
“The greatest environment for all these pollinators is grassland rich in flowers and that is declining quickly in the European continent because of all these reasons,” stated one of the lead coordinators of the butterflies assessment. “The positive thing is that so many individuals care now and there’s a lot more consciousness. Under the EU nature restoration legislation, all member countries have to halt the decrease in pollinators by 2030, and they are going to have to start doing something. There are landowners who are engaged. It is hoped they can get the incentives 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 lower agricultural output – and may enhance it – such as growers establishing flower-rich margins around their cultivated areas.
Jessika Roswall, characterized the conservation status of non-managed bees, butterfly species and other pollinating insects as “dire”.
“Prompt and unified steps is needed to tackle this threat. Along with member states, the EU Commission has put in place an European Union-wide observation system for pollinating insects based on the EU nature restoration law, which will help to track our progress. Now, we need to concentrate on application and partnership with participating nations to protect our pollinating insects,” she said.
The release of the bee and butterfly assessments follows the initial EU-wide evaluation of hoverflies, an additional vital group of pollinators. Issued in 2022, it showed that over one-third of all hoverfly species in European nations were threatened with extinction.
