The count of wild bee species in European nations facing disappearance has increased twofold in the last ten years, whereas the number of threatened butterfly has close to doubled.
This critical situation for vital pollinators was revealed by research studies for the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) red list, which determined that at least 172 bee varieties out of over 1900 were at risk of extinction in European nations.
The count of butterfly types facing extinction in Europe has increased from 37 to over sixty since the last study, carried out over a decade past. A single species, the Madeiran large white butterfly (Pieris wollastoni) has now been confirmed extinct.
In addition to their visual charm and cultural value, pollinators like bees and butterflies are crucial elements for our physical condition, our food systems and our economic systems – supporting the fruits, vegetables and seeds that nourish us,” said Grethel Aguilar. “The most recent assessments of the European red list reveal significant difficulties, with threats mounting for butterfly species and vital native bee varieties.”
The reasons of the swift recent drops are the continuing destruction or damage of habitats caused by farming intensification and land abandonment, wetland drainage, livestock overgrazing, and the application of fertilisers and pesticides including neonicotinoid pesticides. The fragmentation of pollinator-friendly habitat greatly increases the risk of local extinctions.
Climate change is also revealed to be a significant danger: Over half of all endangered butterfly species in European nations are endangered by the climate crisis – roughly twice as many as a decade ago.
As many as ninety percent of flowering plants in the European continent depend on pollination by animals, according to the lead coordinator of the wild bee assessment. “Sadly, wild bee colonies are in drastic decline and are not easily replaceable by managed colonies,” he said. “If native bees disappear, many wild plants might be in danger as well – of which bloom-filled grasslands and lovely orchid types are just a couple of instances.”
15 varieties of bumblebee types, which perform a vital function in aiding the pollination of crops such as peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and 14 types of cellophane bee types, known for pollinating trees such as willow trees and red maples, are now categorized as at-risk. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee exclusive to the European continent and the single type of this biological genus in European nations, is now classified as critically at risk – the scientific classification closest to dying out in natural habitats.
Butterfly species that are only found on mountain peaks are highly susceptible to global warming as they need to move uphill as their environments become warmer but eventually exhaust available space. In southern Spain, the Nevada grayling butterfly and the Andalusian anomalous blue are among above 40 percent of species endemic to Europe (only found in Europe) threatened with extinction.
In the Mediterranean area, species such as the critically endangered grayling of Karpathos are threatened by severe drought and wildfires.
In the meantime, in the Far North, global warming is causing the timberline to move north by tens of metres each year, with bushes taking over wetlands and tundra. Warmer conditions also mean reindeer can not anymore cross the frozen water to graze Arctic grasslands and prevent them from overgrowing. Eight types of butterflies are threatened with extinction in this zone, including Freyja’s fritillary butterfly and the Arctic ringlet butterfly.
“The largest living space for all these pollinators is bloom-filled grassy areas and that is declining quickly throughout the European continent because of all these reasons,” stated a lead coordinator for the butterfly assessment. “The encouraging aspect is that so many individuals care now and there’s a lot more understanding. Under the European Union nature restoration law, all member states have to turn around 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. It is hoped they can receive the encouragements that will support them on their way.”
According to Warren, there is “low-hanging fruit” in terms of action for pollinating species which won’t reduce crop yields – and may enhance it – such as growers creating flower-rich margins around their cultivated areas.
EU commissioner for environment, portrayed the conservation status of non-managed bees, butterfly species and other pollinating insects as “dire”.
“Immediate and joint measures is needed to address this risk. Together with participating nations, the EU Commission has put in place an Europe-wide tracking system for pollinating species based on the EU nature restoration regulation, which will assist in monitoring our progress. Now, we need to prioritize implementation and cooperation with member countries to protect our pollinating species,” she said.
The issuance of the assessments on bees and butterflies follows the initial Europe-wide evaluation of hoverflies, another vital pollinator group. Released in 2022, it revealed that 37% of all hoverfly varieties in Europe were threatened with extinction.
