The number of wild bee species in European nations confronting extinction has increased twofold during the previous ten-year period, and the count of endangered butterfly species has almost doubled.
This pressing issue for vital pollinators was revealed by scientific studies for the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) red list, which found that at least 172 bee types out of 1,928 were at risk of extinction in the European continent.
The total of butterflies at risk of extinction in the European continent has increased from 37 to over sixty since the last study, carried out 14 years ago. One type, the Madeiran large white (Pieris wollastoni) has now been classified as extinct.
In addition to their visual charm and cultural importance, pollinators like bees and butterflies are crucial elements for our well-being, our food systems and our financial structures – supporting the fruits, vegetables and seeds that nourish us,” commented the IUCN director general. “The newest European red list assessments reveal major obstacles, with threats mounting for butterfly species and essential non-managed bee types.”
The factors of the quick recent decreases are the ongoing damage or destruction of natural habitats caused by farming intensification and deserted farmland, draining wetlands, overgrazing by livestock, and the application of fertilisers and pesticides including neonicotinoid pesticides. The division of habitat friendly to pollinators greatly increases the threat of disappearances in specific areas.
Global warming is also revealed to be a significant danger: Over half of all endangered butterfly types in the European continent are endangered by the climate emergency – approximately double the number as a ten years ago.
As many as nine out of ten of plants that flower in European nations depend on animal pollination, as per Dr Denis Michez. “Sadly, native bee populations are in severe drop and cannot be easily replaced by domesticated hives,” he said. “If native bees die out, many wild plants might be threatened too – of which meadows rich in flowers and lovely orchid types are just a handful of illustrations.”
Fifteen types of bumblebees, which perform a vital function in aiding the pollination of legumes like peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and 14 species of cellophane bee species, famous for pollinating trees such as willows along with red maples, are now classified as threatened. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee type unique to the European continent and the single type of this biological genus in Europe, is now classified as critically endangered – the scientific category nearest to extinction in the wild.
Butterflies that are only found on mountain peaks are especially at risk to global heating as they need to move uphill as their habitats become hotter but ultimately have no room left. In the southern part of Spain, the Nevada grayling and the Andalusian anomalous blue butterfly are among above 40 percent of types unique to Europe (only found in Europe) facing extinction.
In the Mediterranean region, varieties such as the highly at-risk grayling of Karpathos are threatened by extreme dry conditions and fires.
In the meantime, in the Arctic Circle, global heating is causing the forest boundary to move north by many meters each year, with scrub invading wetlands and tundra. Hotter climates also mean caribou can no longer cross the frozen water to graze northern grasslands and maintain them clear. Eight butterfly species are facing extinction in this area, including Freyja’s fritillary and the Arctic ringlet.
“The largest environment for all these pollinating species is grassland rich in flowers and that is declining quickly across Europe because of all these elements,” said a lead coordinator for the butterfly assessment. “The good news is that so many people are concerned now and there’s a lot more understanding. Under the EU nature restoration legislation, all participating nations have to halt the decrease in pollinating insects by the year 2030, and they are going to have to begin taking action. There are property owners who are engaged. We hope they can obtain the incentives that will support them on their way.”
As per the coordinator, there is “readily achievable actions” in terms of measures for pollinators which won’t reduce food production – and may enhance it – such as growers creating bloom-filled edges around their cultivated areas.
Jessika Roswall, described the preservation condition of native bees, butterflies and additional pollinators as “critical”.
“Prompt and unified steps is required to confront this danger. Along with participating nations, the European Commission has established an European Union-wide monitoring system for pollinating insects based on the EU nature restoration law, which will help to track our progress. Now, we need to prioritize implementation and cooperation with member countries to preserve our pollinators,” she said.
The release of the assessments on bees and butterflies comes after the pioneering European-wide study on hoverflies, an additional crucial group of pollinators. Issued in 2022, it revealed that over one-third of all hoverfly types in European nations were at risk of extinction.
