The number of non-managed bee types in Europe confronting dying out has over doubled in the last ten years, and the number of endangered butterfly types has nearly doubled.
This critical situation for essential pollinating insects was revealed by scientific studies for the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) red list, which found that at least over 170 bee types out of nearly two thousand were threatened with extinction in Europe.
The total of butterflies at risk of extinction in the European continent has increased from thirty-seven to sixty-five since the earlier research, carried out a decade and a half ago. A single species, the Madeiran large white butterfly (Pieris wollastoni) has now been confirmed extinct.
“Beyond their aesthetic appeal and cultural significance, pollinators like bees and butterfly species are crucial elements for our well-being, our food systems and our economies – sustaining the fruits, vegetables and seeds that feed us,” commented Grethel Aguilar. “The latest assessments of the European red list reveal major obstacles, with risks increasing for butterfly species and essential non-managed bee species.”
The factors of the quick recent decreases are the ongoing harm or degradation of living environments caused by intensive agriculture and abandoned land, wetland drainage, overgrazing by livestock, and the use of pesticides and fertilisers including neonicotinoid pesticides. The fragmentation of pollinator-friendly habitat substantially boosts the risk of disappearances in specific areas.
Climate change is also shown to be a primary risk: Over half of all at-risk butterfly species in European nations are imperilled by the climate crisis – approximately double the number as a decade ago.
Nearly nine out of ten of flowering plants in the European continent rely on pollination by animals, as stated by Dr Denis Michez. “Regrettably, native bee colonies are in drastic decline and are not easily replaceable by domesticated hives,” he said. “If non-managed bees die out, many non-cultivated plants might be in danger as well – of which meadows rich in flowers and lovely orchid types are just a couple of instances.”
Fifteen species of bumblebees, which play a crucial role in pollinating legumes like peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and 14 types of cellophane bee types, known for aiding tree pollination such as willows and red maples, are now classified as threatened. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee type found only in the European continent and the only species of this genus in European nations, is now evaluated as severely threatened – the research category closest to disappearance in the wild.
Butterfly types that are solely present on mountain tops are highly susceptible to global heating as they need to move uphill as their living spaces become hotter but eventually have no room left. In Spain’s southern region, the Nevada grayling and the Andalusian anomalous blue are among more than 40% of types unique to Europe (only found in Europe) facing extinction.
In the Mediterranean area, varieties such as the severely threatened Karpathos grayling butterfly are endangered by intense drought and wildfires.
At the same time, in the Far North, global warming is causing the tree line to move north by dozens of meters each year, with scrub invading marsh and tundra. Hotter climates also mean Arctic deer can no longer cross the frozen water to browse northern grasslands and maintain them clear. Eight butterfly species are at risk of extinction in this area, including Freyja’s fritillary butterfly and the ringlet of the Arctic.
“The largest living space for all these pollinating insects is grassland rich in flowers and that is declining quickly throughout Europe because of all these reasons,” remarked Martin Warren. “The positive thing is that so many citizens care now and there’s a lot more consciousness. Under the EU nature restoration legislation, all member states have to turn around the decline in pollinating species by 2030, and they are going to have to begin taking action. There are land holders who are engaged. We hope they can obtain the incentives that will support them on their way.”
As per the coordinator, there is “easy opportunities” in terms of steps for pollinating species which will not decrease food production – and could improve it – such as growers creating bloom-filled edges around their fields.
EU commissioner for environment, characterized the conservation status of wild bees, butterflies and other pollinators as “critical”.
“Immediate and joint measures is needed to tackle this threat. In collaboration with member countries, the Commission of the European Union has established an European Union-wide observation system for pollinators based on the EU nature restoration regulation, which will help to track our progress. Now, we need to concentrate on execution and partnership with member states to preserve our pollinators,” she said.
The issuance of the bee and butterfly assessments comes after the first EU-wide evaluation of hoverflies, an additional crucial group of pollinators. Issued in 2022, it showed that over one-third of all hoverfly species in Europe were at risk of extinction.
