The count of native bee species in Europe experiencing extinction has increased twofold over the past decade, whereas the total of endangered butterfly has almost doubled.
This pressing issue for crucial pollinating species was unveiled by research studies for the IUCN red list, which determined that at least over 170 bee types out of 1,928 were facing extinction in Europe.
The count of butterfly species facing extinction in the European continent has increased from thirty-seven to sixty-five since the last study, performed 14 years ago. A single species, the large white of Madeira (Pieris wollastoni) has now been confirmed extinct.
“Beyond their beauty and cultural significance, pollinating species like bees and butterflies are crucial elements for our physical condition, our food chains and our economies – maintaining the fruits, vegetables and seeds that sustain us,” commented the IUCN director general. “The newest European red list evaluations reveal major obstacles, with dangers mounting for butterfly species and essential wild bee species.”
The reasons of the rapid recent declines are the continuing harm or degradation of natural habitats caused by agricultural intensification and land abandonment, draining wetlands, livestock overgrazing, and the application of chemical fertilisers and pesticides including neonicotinoid pesticides. The fragmentation of environments suitable for pollinators significantly raises the danger of disappearances in specific areas.
Global heating is also shown to be a significant danger: Over half of all at-risk butterfly types in Europe are endangered by the climate change crisis – about twice as many as a previous decade.
As many as ninety percent of blooming plants in the European continent depend on pollination by animals, as per the lead coordinator of the wild bee assessment. “Regrettably, native bee colonies are in severe drop and cannot be easily replaced by managed colonies,” he said. “If non-managed bees die out, many non-cultivated plants might be at risk too – of which bloom-filled grasslands and lovely orchid types are just a handful of illustrations.”
15 varieties of bumblebee types, which perform a vital function in fertilizing legumes like peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and 14 species of cellophane bees, known for fertilizing trees such as willows along with red maples, are now listed as threatened. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee species exclusive to the mainland and the sole species of this genus in Europe, is now assessed as critically at risk – the scientific category most akin to dying out in natural habitats.
Butterfly types that are solely present on mountain tops are particularly vulnerable to climate change as they need to move uphill as their habitats become warmer but ultimately run out of space. In the southern part of Spain, the grayling of Nevada and the anomalous blue of Andalusia are among above 40 percent of species endemic to Europe (only found in Europe) at risk of extinction.
In the Mediterranean, varieties such as the severely threatened Karpathos grayling are threatened by intense dry conditions and fires.
At the same time, in the Arctic region, climate change is leading to the tree line to advance northwards 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 northern grasslands and maintain them clear. Eight butterfly species are threatened with extinction in this region, including the fritillary of Freyja and the Arctic ringlet butterfly.
“The largest habitat for all these pollinating insects is grassland rich in flowers and that is vanishing rapidly across the European continent because of all these reasons,” remarked 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 European Union nature restoration law, all member countries have to halt the decrease in pollinators by twenty-thirty, and they are going to have to begin taking action. There are land holders who are engaged. We hope they can get the motivations that will assist them on their way.”
According to the coordinator, there is “low-hanging fruit” in terms of measures for pollinating insects which will not lower agricultural output – and may enhance it – such as farmers developing margins rich in flowers around their fields.
the EU’s environment commissioner, portrayed the protection status of non-managed bees, butterfly species and other pollinating insects as “dire”.
“Prompt and unified steps is necessary to address this danger. In collaboration with member countries, the European Commission has established an Europe-wide monitoring system for pollinating insects based on the EU nature restoration law, which will help to track our advancement. Now, we need to prioritize execution and partnership with participating nations to protect our pollinating species,” she said.
The release of the assessments on bees and butterflies follows the pioneering European-wide evaluation of hoverflies, another crucial pollinator group. Issued in 2022, it showed that thirty-seven percent of all hoverfly varieties in Europe were at risk of extinction.
