The count of native bee species in Europe confronting disappearance has more than doubled over the past decade, and the count of threatened butterfly has nearly doubled.
This pressing issue for crucial pollinating species was disclosed by scientific studies for the IUCN red list, which determined that at least 172 bee varieties out of over 1900 were at risk of extinction in the European continent.
The count of butterfly species threatened with extinction in the European continent has increased from thirty-seven to 65 since the previous assessment, performed over a decade past. A single species, the Madeiran large white butterfly (Pieris wollastoni) has now been classified as extinct.
Apart from their aesthetic appeal and cultural importance, pollinating insects like bees and butterfly species are essential supports for our physical condition, our food supplies and our economies – supporting the fruits, vegetables and seeds that sustain us,” commented the IUCN director general. “The most recent assessments of the European red list reveal major obstacles, with dangers increasing for butterfly types and crucial non-managed bee types.”
The factors of the rapid recent declines are the ongoing destruction or damage of natural habitats caused by agricultural intensification and abandoned land, wetland drainage, livestock overgrazing, and the use of pesticides and fertilisers including neonicotinoid chemicals. The breaking up of environments suitable for pollinators greatly increases the threat of local extinctions.
Global heating is also revealed to be a major threat: Fifty-two percent of all endangered butterflies in European nations are endangered by the climate emergency – approximately twofold the amount as a decade ago.
As many as 90% of flowering plants in the European continent require animal pollination, as stated by Dr Denis Michez. “Regrettably, non-managed bee populations are in severe drop and are not easily replaceable by managed colonies,” he said. “If wild bees die out, many native plants might be at risk too – of which bloom-filled grasslands and beautiful orchid species are just a few examples.”
15 varieties of bumblebee types, which have an essential part in pollinating peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and 14 species of cellophane bee species, famous for pollinating trees such as willow trees and red maples, are now categorized as at-risk. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee unique to the mainland and the only species of this genus in Europe, is now classified as severely threatened – the research category closest to dying out in natural habitats.
Butterflies that are only found on mountain tops are highly susceptible to global heating as they need to move uphill as their habitats become more heated but ultimately exhaust available space. In southern Spain, the Nevada grayling and the anomalous blue of Andalusia are among above 40 percent of species endemic to Europe (only found in Europe) facing extinction.
In the Mediterranean, types such as the highly at-risk Karpathos grayling are threatened by extreme drought and wildfires.
At the same time, in the Arctic Circle, global warming is causing the timberline to shift northward by many meters each year, with underbrush encroaching on bog and tundra. Higher temperatures also mean caribou can no longer cross the ice sheets to browse Arctic meadows and prevent them from overgrowing. Eight butterfly species are threatened with extinction in this area, including Freyja’s fritillary butterfly and the Arctic ringlet.
“The biggest habitat for all these pollinating insects is bloom-filled grassy areas and that is declining quickly in European nations because of all these elements,” remarked one of the lead coordinators of the butterflies assessment. “The positive thing is that so many individuals are aware now and there’s a lot more understanding. Under the EU nature restoration legislation, all member countries have to turn around the drop in pollinating insects by the year 2030, and they are going to have to initiate measures. There are land holders who are interested. It is hoped they can obtain the incentives that will support them on their way.”
As stated by Warren, there is “readily achievable actions” in terms of measures for pollinating species which will not lower crop yields – and might boost it – such as farmers creating margins rich in flowers around their farmland.
the EU’s environment commissioner, characterized the protection status of wild bees, butterflies and other pollinators as “dire”.
“Urgent and collective action is needed to address this threat. In collaboration with member countries, the European Commission has implemented an European Union-wide tracking system for pollinating insects based on the EU nature restoration law, which will assist in monitoring our advancement. Now, we need to concentrate on execution and partnership with member states to safeguard our pollinating species,” she said.
The publication of the evaluations of bees along with butterflies is subsequent to the initial European-wide assessment of hoverflies, a further vital group of pollinators. Issued in 2022, it disclosed that over one-third of all hoverfly varieties in Europe were threatened with extinction.
