The number of wild bee types in the European continent experiencing extinction has over doubled over the past decade, and the total of threatened butterfly species has almost doubled.
This dire scenario for essential pollinators was revealed by scientific studies for the red list of threatened species, which established that at least one hundred seventy-two bee varieties out of 1,928 were facing extinction in Europe.
The number of butterfly species threatened with extinction in Europe has grown from thirty-seven to sixty-five since the earlier research, conducted a decade and a half ago. A single species, the large white of Madeira (Pieris wollastoni) has now been declared extinct.
Apart from their beauty and cultural value, pollinating species like bees along with butterflies are essential supports for our health, our food systems and our financial structures – sustaining the fruits, veggies and seeds that feed us,” commented the IUCN’s director general. “The most recent European red list evaluations reveal significant difficulties, with threats growing for butterfly species and essential non-managed bee varieties.”
The factors of the rapid recent declines are the continuing harm or degradation of habitats caused by intensive agriculture and abandoned land, draining wetlands, overgrazing by livestock, and the application of fertilisers and pesticides including neonicotinoid pesticides. The fragmentation of environments suitable for pollinators substantially boosts the risk of disappearances in specific areas.
Global warming is also revealed to be a significant danger: Over half of all endangered butterfly types in Europe are imperilled by the climate change crisis – approximately twofold the amount as a decade ago.
As many as nine out of ten of flowering plants in Europe require pollination by animals, as per the wild bee assessment’s lead coordinator. “Sadly, wild bee colonies are in sharp decrease and cannot readily be substituted by managed colonies,” he said. “If native bees die out, many native plants might be at risk too – of which flower-rich meadows and lovely orchid types are just a handful of illustrations.”
Fifteen types of bumblebee species, which perform a vital function in fertilizing legumes like peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and 14 types of cellophane bee species, famous for pollinating trees such as willow trees and red maples, are now classified as threatened. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee species exclusive to the continent and the single type of this genus in Europe, is now classified as critically endangered – the scientific category nearest to disappearance in the wild.
Butterflies that are only found on mountain tops are particularly vulnerable to global heating as they have to climb upward as their living spaces become warmer but in the end have no room left. In Spain’s southern region, the grayling of Nevada and the Andalusian anomalous blue butterfly are among over forty percent of European endemics (exclusive to Europe) threatened with extinction.
In the Mediterranean region, varieties such as the highly at-risk grayling of Karpathos are endangered by severe drought and wildfires.
At the same time, in the Arctic Circle, climate change is resulting in the timberline to advance northwards by tens of metres each year, with bushes invading bog and tundra. Higher temperatures also mean reindeer can no more cross the ice to graze northern grasslands and prevent them from overgrowing. Eight butterfly species are at risk of extinction in this region, including Freyja’s fritillary butterfly and the ringlet of the Arctic.
“The greatest living space for all these pollinators is bloom-filled grassy areas and that is disappearing very fast throughout Europe because of all these reasons,” stated Martin Warren. “The good news is that so many people care now and there’s a lot more consciousness. Under the European Union nature restoration law, all participating nations have to halt the drop in pollinators by twenty-thirty, and they are going to have to initiate measures. There are property owners who are engaged. It is hoped they can receive the motivations that will assist them on their way.”
As stated by Martin Warren, there is “easy opportunities” in terms of steps for pollinators which will not decrease food production – and could improve it – such as growers creating margins rich in flowers around their cultivated areas.
Jessika Roswall, portrayed the protection status of non-managed bees, butterfly species and other pollinating insects as “severe”.
“Prompt and unified steps is needed to address this danger. Along with member countries, the European Commission has implemented an European Union-wide tracking system for pollinating species based on the European Union nature restoration legislation, which will assist in monitoring our progress. Now, we need to concentrate on execution and partnership with member countries to preserve our pollinating insects,” she said.
The publication of the evaluations of bees along with butterflies follows the pioneering European-wide assessment of hoverflies, an additional crucial pollinating insect category. Issued in 2022, it showed that 37% of all hoverfly types in the European continent were at risk of extinction.
