The number of wild bee species in European nations confronting disappearance has increased twofold in the last ten years, and the number of at-risk butterfly species has almost doubled.
This critical situation for essential pollinating species was revealed by research studies for the red list of threatened species, which determined that at least over 170 bee species out of 1,928 were threatened with extinction in Europe.
The count of butterfly species at risk of extinction in the European continent has risen from 37 to 65 since the last study, conducted 14 years ago. A single species, the large white of Madeira (Pieris wollastoni) has now been classified as extinct.
Apart from their beauty and cultural significance, pollinating insects like bees and butterfly species are crucial elements for our health, our food chains and our economic systems – supporting the produce, vegetables and seeds that sustain us,” stated the IUCN director general. “The newest assessments of the European red list reveal significant difficulties, with risks mounting for butterfly species and vital native bee species.”
The factors of the swift recent drops are the continuing destruction or damage of habitats caused by farming intensification and abandoned land, draining wetlands, overgrazing by livestock, and the utilization of chemical fertilisers and pesticides including neonicotinoids. The division of pollinator-friendly habitat greatly increases the threat of extinctions at local level.
Global heating is also revealed to be a major threat: Over half of all threatened butterfly types in the European continent are threatened by the climate crisis – roughly twice as many as a ten years ago.
Nearly nine out of ten of blooming plants in the European continent rely on pollination by animals, as per the wild bee assessment’s lead coordinator. “Unfortunately, native bee populations are in drastic decline and cannot readily be substituted by managed colonies,” he said. “If non-managed bees disappear, many non-cultivated plants might be in danger as well – of which flower-rich meadows and attractive orchid varieties are just a handful of illustrations.”
Fifteen species of bumblebees, which have an essential part in pollinating peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and 14 types of cellophane bee types, recognized for fertilizing trees such as willow trees and red maples, are now classified as threatened. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee type unique to the continent and the sole species of this genus group in the European continent, is now evaluated as critically at risk – the research category most akin to dying out in natural habitats.
Butterfly types that are exclusively located on mountain peaks are particularly vulnerable to global warming as they must ascend higher as their habitats become hotter but ultimately run out of space. In Spain’s southern region, the Nevada grayling butterfly 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 area, varieties such as the severely threatened grayling of Karpathos are threatened by intense dry conditions and fires.
In the meantime, in the Far North, global warming is leading to the forest boundary to move north by dozens of meters each year, with scrub encroaching on marsh and tundra. Hotter climates also mean Arctic deer can not anymore cross the ice to feed on northern grasslands and keep them open. 8 butterfly varieties are at risk of extinction in this zone, including Freyja’s fritillary and the Arctic ringlet butterfly.
“The biggest habitat for all these pollinating insects is grassland rich in flowers and that is disappearing very fast throughout European nations because of all these factors,” remarked one of the lead coordinators of the butterflies assessment. “The encouraging aspect is that so many people are concerned now and there’s a lot more awareness. Under the EU nature restoration legislation, all member countries have to halt the decline in pollinators by 2030, and they are going to have to begin taking action. There are property owners who are interested. Let’s hope they can get the encouragements that will assist them on their way.”
According to the coordinator, there is “low-hanging fruit” in terms of action for pollinating insects which won’t reduce agricultural output – and may enhance it – such as agricultural producers establishing flower-rich margins around their cultivated areas.
the EU’s environment commissioner, characterized the protection status of native bees, butterflies and additional pollinators as “dire”.
“Urgent and collective action is required to confront this risk. Along with member states, the European Commission has put in place an Europe-wide tracking system for pollinators based on the EU nature restoration law, which will assist in monitoring our advancement. Now, we need to focus on execution and collaboration with member states to safeguard our pollinating species,” she said.
The publication of the evaluations of bees along with butterflies comes after the initial Europe-wide study on hoverflies, an additional crucial pollinator group. Issued in 2022, it disclosed that over one-third of all hoverfly species in European nations were facing extinction.
