The count of wild bee species in European nations experiencing disappearance has more than doubled over the past decade, while the number of threatened butterfly species has nearly doubled.
This pressing issue for essential pollinators was revealed by research studies for the IUCN red list, which determined that at least one hundred seventy-two bee types out of over 1900 were threatened with extinction in the European continent.
The count of butterfly species facing extinction in Europe has risen from 37 to sixty-five since the last study, carried out 14 years ago. One species, the Madeiran large white (Pieris wollastoni) has now been confirmed extinct.
In addition to their aesthetic appeal and cultural value, pollinators like bees along with butterflies are crucial elements for our health, our food systems and our economic systems – maintaining the fruits, veggies and seeds that feed us,” commented the IUCN director general. “The most recent European red list assessments reveal significant difficulties, with dangers increasing for butterfly species and crucial non-managed bee species.”
The reasons of the swift recent drops are the persistent damage or destruction of natural habitats caused by agricultural intensification and land abandonment, draining of wetlands, livestock overgrazing, and the utilization of fertilisers and pesticides including neonicotinoid chemicals. The division of environments suitable for pollinators substantially boosts the threat of extinctions at local level.
Global warming is also revealed to be a major threat: Fifty-two percent of all threatened butterfly types in European nations are threatened by the climate change crisis – roughly twice as many as a ten years ago.
Nearly nine out of ten of flowering plants in European nations depend on insect pollination, as per the lead coordinator of the wild bee assessment. “Regrettably, non-managed bee groups are in sharp decrease and cannot readily be substituted by managed bee colonies,” he said. “If wild bees disappear, many wild plants might be in danger as well – 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 legumes like peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and 14 species of cellophane bees, known for pollinating trees such as willows along with red maples, are now classified as threatened. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee type unique to the mainland and the only species of this genus group in European nations, is now assessed as critically endangered – the scientific category closest to dying out in natural habitats.
Butterfly types that are solely present on mountain peaks are particularly vulnerable to climate change as they need to move uphill as their living spaces become hotter but eventually have no room left. In the southern part of Spain, the Nevada grayling butterfly and the Andalusian anomalous blue are among more than 40% of types unique to Europe (only found in Europe) threatened with extinction.
In the Mediterranean, types such as the highly at-risk Karpathos grayling are endangered by intense dry conditions and fires.
In the meantime, in the Far North, global heating is leading to the timberline to advance northwards by many meters each year, with bushes invading marsh and tundra. Warmer conditions also mean Arctic deer can no longer cross the ice to feed on Arctic grasslands and prevent them from overgrowing. Eight types of butterflies are threatened with extinction in this region, including Freyja’s fritillary butterfly and the ringlet of the Arctic.
“The largest habitat for all these pollinating insects is grassland rich in flowers and that is disappearing very fast in European nations because of all these elements,” remarked one of the lead coordinators of the butterflies assessment. “The good news is that so many individuals are concerned now and there’s a lot more understanding. Under the European Union nature restoration law, all member states have to halt the decrease in pollinating insects by 2030, and they are going to have to initiate measures. There are land holders who are engaged. We hope they can get the incentives that will assist them on their way.”
According to Warren, there is “easy opportunities” in terms of measures for pollinators which will not decrease food production – and may enhance it – such as farmers creating bloom-filled edges around their fields.
the EU’s environment commissioner, described the conservation status of native bees, butterflies and additional pollinators as “dire”.
“Urgent and collective action is necessary to address this risk. Along with member states, the EU Commission has put in place an European Union-wide observation system for pollinating species based on the European Union nature restoration legislation, which will help to track our progress. Now, we need to prioritize execution and collaboration with member countries to safeguard our pollinators,” she said.
The issuance of the evaluations of bees along with butterflies is subsequent to the first European-wide evaluation of hoverflies, another crucial pollinator group. Released in 2022, it disclosed that 37% of all hoverfly species in the European continent were at risk of extinction.
