The number of wild bee species in European nations experiencing dying out has increased twofold over the past decade, while the total of endangered butterfly has nearly doubled.
This critical situation for crucial pollinators was revealed by research studies for the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) red list, which found that at least one hundred seventy-two bee varieties out of over 1900 were facing extinction in European nations.
The total of butterfly species at risk of extinction in the European continent has risen from thirty-seven to sixty-five since the previous assessment, carried out over a decade past. One species, the Madeiran large white (Pieris wollastoni) has now been classified as extinct.
“Beyond their beauty and cultural significance, pollinating species like bees and butterflies are crucial elements for our well-being, our food chains and our economies – sustaining the fruits, veggies and seeds that nourish us,” said the IUCN director general. “The most recent European red list assessments reveal major obstacles, with threats increasing for butterfly species and vital non-managed bee varieties.”
The reasons of the rapid recent declines are the persistent destruction or damage of living environments caused by farming intensification and deserted farmland, draining wetlands, overgrazing by livestock, and the application of chemical fertilisers and pesticides including neonicotinoid pesticides. The division of habitat friendly to pollinators substantially boosts the risk of extinctions at local level.
Global warming is also demonstrated to be a primary risk: Fifty-two percent of all at-risk butterflies in European nations are imperilled by the climate emergency – about twice as many as a previous decade.
Up to ninety percent of blooming plants in Europe rely on pollination by animals, as per Dr Denis Michez. “Regrettably, non-managed bee groups are in sharp decrease and cannot be easily replaced by managed colonies,” he said. “If wild bees disappear, many non-cultivated plants might be in danger as well – of which flower-rich meadows and attractive orchid varieties are just a few examples.”
Fifteen types of bumblebees, which have an essential part in fertilizing peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and fourteen varieties of cellophane bee types, famous for pollinating trees such as willows and red maples, are now listed as threatened. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee found only in the mainland and the sole species of this genus group in Europe, is now assessed as critically at risk – the research category most akin to disappearance in the wild.
Butterfly types that are only found on mountain tops are particularly vulnerable to global heating as they need to move uphill as their environments become warmer but ultimately have no room left. In the southern part of Spain, the grayling of Nevada and the Andalusian anomalous blue butterfly are among more than 40% of types unique to Europe (only found in Europe) at risk of extinction.
In the Mediterranean region, species such as the critically endangered Karpathos grayling butterfly are endangered by intense wildfires and drought.
In the meantime, in the Arctic region, climate change is leading to the forest boundary to move north by tens of metres each year, with scrub taking over wetlands and tundra. Hotter climates also mean caribou can no longer cross the ice sheets to browse Arctic meadows and prevent them from overgrowing. Eight types of butterflies are at risk of extinction in this area, including the fritillary of Freyja and the Arctic ringlet butterfly.
“The biggest living space for all these pollinating insects is bloom-filled grassy areas and that is vanishing rapidly in European nations because of all these factors,” remarked Martin Warren. “The positive thing is that so many individuals care now and there’s a lot more awareness. Under the European Union nature restoration law, all participating nations have to halt the decrease in pollinating species by the year 2030, and they are going to have to start doing something. There are property owners who are involved. We hope they can get the motivations that will support them on their way.”
According to Warren, there is “easy opportunities” in terms of steps for pollinating species which will not decrease agricultural output – and might boost it – such as farmers developing margins rich in flowers around their fields.
the EU’s environment commissioner, portrayed the protection status of native bees, butterflies and additional pollinators as “critical”.
“Prompt and unified steps is needed to address this risk. Along with member countries, the Commission of the European Union has established an Europe-wide observation system for pollinating insects based on the EU nature restoration law, which will assist in monitoring our advancement. Now, we need to focus on execution and collaboration with participating nations to preserve our pollinators,” she said.
The publication of the assessments on bees and butterflies comes after the pioneering Europe-wide assessment of hoverflies, an additional essential pollinator group. Issued in 2022, it showed that thirty-seven percent of all hoverfly varieties in Europe were threatened with extinction.
