The count of native bee types in European nations facing dying out has increased twofold in the last ten years, while the number of threatened butterfly has nearly doubled.
This dire scenario for essential pollinators was disclosed by research studies for the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) red list, which determined that at least over 170 bee species out of nearly two thousand were threatened with extinction in European nations.
The total of butterfly species facing extinction in the European continent has grown from 37 to 65 since the last study, conducted 14 years ago. One species, the large white of Madeira (Pieris wollastoni) has now been confirmed extinct.
In addition to their beauty and cultural importance, pollinating insects like bees and butterflies are crucial elements for our physical condition, our food supplies and our economies – supporting the fruits, vegetables and seeds that sustain us,” said Grethel Aguilar. “The most recent assessments of the European red list reveal significant difficulties, with dangers increasing for butterfly types and crucial wild bee species.”
The causes of the swift recent drops are the persistent damage or destruction of natural habitats caused by agricultural intensification and deserted farmland, draining of wetlands, excessive grazing by animals, and the use of pesticides and fertilisers including neonicotinoids. The breaking up of environments suitable for pollinators substantially boosts the danger of local extinctions.
Climate change is also shown to be a major threat: 52% of all endangered butterflies in the European continent are threatened by the climate emergency – roughly double the number as a ten years ago.
As many as ninety percent of plants that flower in the European continent rely on animal pollination, as per the lead coordinator of the wild bee assessment. “Unfortunately, native bee populations are in severe drop and cannot readily be substituted by managed colonies,” he said. “If non-managed bees disappear, many non-cultivated plants might be at risk too – of which meadows rich in flowers and beautiful orchid species are just a few examples.”
Fifteen types of bumblebee species, which play a crucial role in pollinating peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and 14 species of cellophane bees, recognized for pollinating trees such as willow trees and red maples, are now categorized as at-risk. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee exclusive to the continent and the sole species of this genus group in European nations, is now assessed as critically endangered – the research category most akin to dying out in natural habitats.
Butterfly species that are only found on mountain peaks are particularly vulnerable to global warming as they must ascend higher as their habitats become hotter but eventually have no room left. In southern Spain, the Nevada grayling and the Andalusian anomalous blue are among more than 40% of species endemic to Europe (only found in Europe) facing extinction.
In the Mediterranean, types such as the critically endangered grayling of Karpathos are threatened by extreme wildfires and drought.
At the same time, in the Arctic region, global heating is causing the forest boundary to move north by many meters each year, with underbrush taking over wetlands and tundra. Warmer conditions also mean caribou can no more cross the ice sheets to graze Arctic grasslands and prevent them from overgrowing. 8 butterfly varieties are threatened with extinction in this region, including the fritillary of Freyja and the Arctic ringlet.
“The largest environment for all these pollinating species is bloom-filled grassy areas and that is disappearing very fast across European nations because of all these elements,” said one of the lead coordinators of the butterflies assessment. “The encouraging aspect is that so many people are aware now and there’s a lot more understanding. Under the EU nature restoration legislation, all member countries have to turn around the decrease in pollinating insects by twenty-thirty, and they are going to have to begin taking action. There are property owners who are interested. It is hoped they can receive the encouragements that will support them on their way.”
According to Martin Warren, there is “low-hanging fruit” in terms of action for pollinators which will not decrease crop yields – and might boost it – such as growers developing margins rich in flowers around their cultivated areas.
Jessika Roswall, portrayed the conservation status of non-managed bees, butterfly species and other pollinating insects as “dire”.
“Immediate and joint measures is necessary to address this danger. Along with participating nations, the Commission of the European Union has implemented an European Union-wide observation system for pollinating species based on the EU nature restoration regulation, which will assist in monitoring our development. Now, we need to prioritize application and partnership with member countries to safeguard our pollinating species,” she said.
The publication of the evaluations of bees along with butterflies is subsequent to the first EU-wide evaluation of hoverflies, a further crucial pollinating insect category. Issued in 2022, it disclosed that over one-third of all hoverfly species in European nations were at risk of extinction.
