The count of wild bee species in the European continent confronting extinction has more than doubled during the previous ten-year period, while the count of threatened butterfly has close to doubled.
This critical situation for vital pollinators was revealed by research studies for the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) red list, which found that at least 172 bee types out of 1,928 were threatened with extinction in European nations.
The number of butterfly types threatened with extinction in Europe has grown from over thirty-five to 65 since the earlier research, conducted a decade and a half ago. A single species, the Madeiran large white butterfly (Pieris wollastoni) has now been classified as extinct.
“Beyond their visual charm and cultural significance, pollinating species like bees and butterflies are crucial elements for our well-being, our food systems and our economies – maintaining the fruits, vegetables and seeds that feed us,” said the IUCN’s director general. “The newest European red list evaluations reveal major obstacles, with risks increasing for butterfly species and crucial native bee varieties.”
The reasons of the rapid recent declines are the ongoing destruction or damage of habitats caused by intensive agriculture and abandoned land, draining of wetlands, excessive grazing by animals, and the utilization of fertilisers and pesticides including neonicotinoid pesticides. The fragmentation of pollinator-friendly habitat substantially boosts the danger of extinctions at local level.
Global warming is also demonstrated to be a significant danger: 52% of all threatened butterflies in European nations are threatened by the climate crisis – roughly twofold the amount as a ten years ago.
As many as 90% of blooming plants in Europe require animal pollination, as stated by Dr Denis Michez. “Regrettably, non-managed bee groups are in drastic decline and cannot be easily replaced by managed colonies,” he said. “If non-managed bees die out, many wild plants might be at risk too – of which bloom-filled grasslands and attractive orchid varieties are just a few examples.”
15 varieties of bumblebees, which perform a vital function in aiding the pollination of legumes like peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and 14 types of cellophane bees, known for fertilizing trees such as willows and red maples, are now listed as threatened. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee found only in the mainland and the single type of this genus in European nations, is now classified as critically endangered – the scientific classification nearest to dying out in natural habitats.
Butterflies that are exclusively located on mountain peaks are highly susceptible to global warming as they have to climb upward as their environments become hotter but ultimately run out of space. In the southern part of Spain, the Nevada grayling butterfly and the Andalusian anomalous blue butterfly are among more than 40% of types unique to Europe (only found in Europe) facing extinction.
In the Mediterranean area, species such as the severely threatened grayling of Karpathos are endangered by severe drought and wildfires.
Meanwhile, in the Arctic region, global warming is resulting in the tree line to advance northwards by dozens of meters each year, with underbrush taking over wetlands and tundra. Warmer conditions also mean reindeer can not anymore cross the ice to feed on Arctic meadows and keep them open. Eight types of butterflies are at risk of extinction in this zone, including Freyja’s fritillary and the Arctic ringlet.
“The greatest living space for all these pollinating insects is grassland rich in flowers and that is vanishing rapidly across European nations because of all these reasons,” 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 awareness. Under the EU nature restoration legislation, all member states have to halt the drop in pollinating insects by the year 2030, and they are going to have to begin taking action. There are property owners who are engaged. Let’s hope they can obtain the incentives that will help them on their way.”
According to Warren, there is “readily achievable actions” in terms of action for pollinating insects which will not decrease food production – and could improve it – such as farmers establishing margins rich in flowers around their fields.
the EU’s environment commissioner, described the preservation condition of native bees, butterflies and additional pollinators as “dire”.
“Urgent and collective action is required to address this risk. Along with member countries, the European Commission has implemented an EU-wide tracking system for pollinators based on the European Union nature restoration legislation, which will help to track our development. Now, we need to focus on implementation and collaboration with participating nations to preserve our pollinating insects,” she said.
The issuance of the evaluations of bees along with butterflies follows the pioneering EU-wide study on hoverflies, another vital pollinating insect category. Published in twenty-twenty-two, it disclosed that 37% of all hoverfly species in European nations were at risk of extinction.
