The count of native bee species in the European continent facing dying out has over doubled in the last ten years, while the number of at-risk butterfly types has close to doubled.
This dire scenario for crucial pollinating insects was revealed by research studies for the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) red list, which determined that at least 172 bee types out of 1,928 were at risk of extinction in Europe.
The count of butterfly types threatened with extinction in the European continent has increased from 37 to 65 since the previous assessment, carried out over a decade past. One species, the Madeiran large white (Pieris wollastoni) has now been confirmed extinct.
In addition to their aesthetic appeal and cultural value, pollinating species like bees along with butterflies are lifelines for our health, our food systems and our economic systems – maintaining the fruits, vegetables and seeds that nourish us,” commented the IUCN’s director general. “The most recent assessments of the European red list reveal serious challenges, with threats increasing for butterfly species and essential non-managed bee varieties.”
The causes of the rapid recent declines are the continuing damage or destruction of habitats caused by agricultural intensification and abandoned land, draining of wetlands, livestock overgrazing, and the utilization of fertilisers and pesticides including neonicotinoid pesticides. The breaking up of habitat friendly to pollinators substantially boosts the danger of local extinctions.
Global heating is also shown to be a major threat: Over half of all endangered butterfly types in Europe are imperilled by the climate change crisis – approximately double the number as a previous decade.
Up to 90% of plants that flower in European nations require pollination by animals, as stated by the lead coordinator of the wild bee assessment. “Unfortunately, wild bee populations are in severe drop and cannot readily be substituted by managed bee colonies,” he said. “If native bees die out, many wild plants might be threatened too – of which flower-rich meadows and lovely orchid types are just a few examples.”
Fifteen species of bumblebee types, which play a crucial role in fertilizing peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and 14 species of cellophane bee species, known for fertilizing trees such as willows and red maples, are now categorized as at-risk. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee exclusive to the mainland and the sole species of this biological genus in the European continent, is now evaluated as critically endangered – the scientific classification nearest to extinction in the wild.
Butterfly species that are exclusively located on mountain tops are highly susceptible to global warming as they must ascend higher as their living spaces become warmer but ultimately run out of space. In southern Spain, the Nevada grayling butterfly and the anomalous blue of Andalusia are among more than 40% of types unique to Europe (exclusive to Europe) at risk of extinction.
In the Mediterranean region, varieties such as the highly at-risk grayling of Karpathos are imperilled by intense drought and wildfires.
Meanwhile, in the Far North, climate change is resulting in the timberline to shift northward by many meters each year, with underbrush encroaching on marsh and tundra. Higher temperatures also mean Arctic deer can not anymore cross the frozen water to browse Arctic grasslands and keep them open. Eight butterfly species are facing extinction in this area, including the fritillary of Freyja and the Arctic ringlet butterfly.
“The largest habitat for all these pollinators is grassland rich in flowers and that is vanishing rapidly across Europe because of all these elements,” remarked one of the lead coordinators of the butterflies assessment. “The positive thing is that so many citizens care now and there’s a lot more consciousness. Under the EU nature restoration legislation, all participating nations have to reverse the drop in pollinators by 2030, and they are going to have to begin taking action. There are property owners who are interested. It is hoped they can receive the motivations that will assist them on their way.”
As per the coordinator, there is “easy opportunities” in terms of steps for pollinating species which will not lower food production – and might boost it – such as agricultural producers establishing flower-rich margins around their cultivated areas.
the EU’s environment commissioner, described the protection status of wild bees, butterflies and other pollinators as “critical”.
“Immediate and joint measures is required to tackle this risk. Together with member states, the Commission of the European Union has implemented an EU-wide monitoring system for pollinators based on the EU nature restoration regulation, which will aid in following our advancement. Now, we need to prioritize application and cooperation with member countries to safeguard our pollinators,” she said.
The publication of the bee and butterfly assessments is subsequent to the first Europe-wide assessment of hoverflies, an additional vital group of pollinators. Published in twenty-twenty-two, it showed that over one-third of all hoverfly varieties in European nations were at risk of extinction.
