The total of wild bee varieties in Europe confronting disappearance has increased twofold over the past decade, while the number of endangered butterfly has almost doubled.
This dire scenario for crucial pollinating species was disclosed by scientific assessments for the IUCN red list, which established that at least one hundred seventy-two bee types out of 1,928 were threatened with extinction in European nations.
The number of butterflies at risk of extinction in the European continent has grown from thirty-seven to 65 since the last study, conducted a decade and a half ago. One type, the Madeiran large white butterfly (Pieris wollastoni) has now been declared extinct.
“Beyond their visual charm and cultural significance, pollinating insects like bees and butterfly species are essential supports for our well-being, our food chains and our financial structures – maintaining the fruits, vegetables and seeds that feed us,” commented the IUCN’s director general. “The most recent European red list assessments reveal significant difficulties, with risks mounting for butterfly types and crucial non-managed bee species.”
The reasons of the rapid recent declines are the ongoing damage or destruction of living environments caused by agricultural intensification and deserted farmland, wetland drainage, overgrazing by livestock, and the application of pesticides and fertilisers including neonicotinoids. The breaking up of pollinator-friendly habitat significantly raises the threat of local extinctions.
Climate change is also shown to be a primary risk: Fifty-two percent of all endangered butterfly types in European nations are endangered by the climate crisis – about double the number as a ten years ago.
As many as nine out of ten of blooming plants in Europe depend on insect pollination, according to the wild bee assessment’s lead coordinator. “Regrettably, wild bee colonies are in drastic decline and cannot readily be substituted by managed colonies,” he said. “If native bees disappear, many wild plants might be in danger as well – of which flower-rich meadows and lovely orchid types are just a couple of instances.”
Fifteen types of bumblebee types, which perform a vital function in aiding the pollination of crops such as peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and fourteen varieties of cellophane bees, famous for aiding tree pollination such as willows and red maples, are now classified as threatened. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee species unique to the continent and the single type of this genus group in European nations, is now assessed as severely threatened – the scientific category most akin to dying out in natural habitats.
Butterfly types that are exclusively located on mountain tops are especially at risk to global warming as they need to move uphill as their habitats become warmer but eventually run out of space. In Spain’s southern region, the Nevada grayling and the Andalusian anomalous blue are among more than 40% of types unique to Europe (exclusive to Europe) threatened with extinction.
In the Mediterranean, species such as the severely threatened Karpathos grayling are endangered by severe drought and wildfires.
In the meantime, in the Arctic region, global warming is causing the timberline to shift northward by dozens of meters each year, with bushes encroaching on wetlands and tundra. Warmer conditions also mean Arctic deer can not anymore cross the ice sheets to browse Arctic meadows and keep them open. Eight butterfly species are at risk of extinction in this zone, including the fritillary of Freyja and the Arctic ringlet.
“The biggest habitat for all these pollinators is bloom-filled grassy areas and that is vanishing rapidly throughout European nations because of all these elements,” stated one of the lead coordinators of the butterflies assessment. “The positive thing is that so many citizens are aware now and there’s a lot more consciousness. Under the European Union nature restoration law, all participating nations have to reverse 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 interested. Let’s hope they can receive the encouragements that will help them on their way.”
As stated by the coordinator, there is “readily achievable actions” in terms of steps for pollinating species which will not lower agricultural output – and might boost it – such as growers developing margins rich in flowers around their fields.
Jessika Roswall, characterized the protection status of non-managed bees, butterfly species and other pollinating insects as “critical”.
“Immediate and joint measures is required to tackle this risk. Together with member countries, the Commission of the European Union has implemented an Europe-wide tracking system for pollinating insects based on the European Union nature restoration legislation, which will assist in monitoring our advancement. Now, we need to prioritize implementation and cooperation with participating nations to protect our pollinators,” she said.
The publication of the assessments on bees and butterflies comes after the initial EU-wide assessment of hoverflies, a further essential pollinator group. Published in 2022, it revealed that over one-third of all hoverfly types in European nations were at risk of extinction.
