The count of wild bee varieties in the European continent experiencing dying out has increased twofold in the last ten years, while the count of endangered butterfly types has close to doubled.
This critical situation for essential pollinators was revealed by research studies for the red list of threatened species, which determined that at least one hundred seventy-two bee species out of 1,928 were facing extinction in European nations.
The count of butterfly species at risk of extinction in the European continent has increased from thirty-seven to 65 since the last study, performed a decade and a half ago. One species, the large white of Madeira (Pieris wollastoni) has now been declared extinct.
“Beyond their beauty and cultural significance, pollinating insects like bees along with butterflies are lifelines for our well-being, our food systems and our economic systems – sustaining the produce, vegetables and seeds that nourish us,” said the IUCN director general. “The newest European red list assessments reveal major obstacles, with threats mounting for butterfly types and crucial native bee types.”
The factors of the swift recent drops are the ongoing damage or destruction of natural habitats caused by agricultural intensification and deserted farmland, draining wetlands, overgrazing by livestock, and the application of chemical fertilisers and pesticides including neonicotinoid chemicals. The division of environments suitable for pollinators greatly increases the threat of local extinctions.
Global heating is also shown to be a major threat: Over half of all threatened butterfly species in the European continent are imperilled by the climate change crisis – approximately double the number as a ten years ago.
Up to 90% of blooming plants in European nations depend on pollination by animals, according to the lead coordinator of the wild bee assessment. “Sadly, non-managed bee groups are in sharp decrease and cannot readily be substituted by managed colonies,” he said. “If wild bees disappear, many wild plants might be threatened too – of which meadows rich in flowers and beautiful orchid species are just a couple of instances.”
15 varieties of bumblebees, which play a crucial role in pollinating legumes like peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and 14 species of cellophane bee species, known for pollinating trees such as willow trees and red maples, are now classified as threatened. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee type unique to the mainland and the single type of this biological genus in the European continent, is now assessed as critically at risk – the scientific classification most akin to dying out in natural habitats.
Butterflies that are exclusively located on mountain peaks are particularly vulnerable to global warming as they have to climb upward as their living spaces become hotter but ultimately exhaust available space. In southern Spain, the Nevada grayling butterfly and the Andalusian anomalous blue butterfly 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 are endangered by intense dry conditions and fires.
At the same time, in the Far North, global warming is causing the forest boundary to shift northward by dozens of meters each year, with underbrush invading wetlands and tundra. Higher temperatures also mean reindeer can not anymore cross the ice to browse Arctic meadows and prevent them from overgrowing. Eight butterfly species are threatened with extinction in this area, including Freyja’s fritillary and the Arctic ringlet.
“The greatest living space for all these pollinators is bloom-filled grassy areas and that is vanishing rapidly across Europe because of all these factors,” remarked one of the lead coordinators of the butterflies assessment. “The encouraging aspect is that so many people care now and there’s a lot more consciousness. Under the EU nature restoration legislation, all participating nations have to reverse the drop in pollinating species by 2030, and they are going to have to begin taking action. There are land holders who are involved. It is hoped they can get the incentives that will assist them on their way.”
As stated by Martin Warren, there is “readily achievable actions” in terms of steps for pollinators which will not decrease agricultural output – and might boost it – such as growers developing bloom-filled edges around their fields.
EU commissioner for environment, characterized the conservation status of non-managed bees, butterfly species and other pollinating insects as “severe”.
“Immediate and joint measures is required to tackle this threat. Together with member states, the EU Commission has implemented an European Union-wide observation system for pollinating insects based on the European Union nature restoration legislation, which will assist in monitoring our development. Now, we need to prioritize execution and partnership with participating nations to protect our pollinators,” she said.
The publication of the evaluations of bees along with butterflies comes after the pioneering EU-wide assessment of hoverflies, another crucial pollinator group. Published in 2022, it disclosed that 37% of all hoverfly types in European nations were at risk of extinction.
