The count of non-managed bee species in the European continent facing extinction has more than doubled in the last ten years, and the number of at-risk butterfly species has close to doubled.
This dire scenario for vital pollinating insects was revealed by research studies for the red list of threatened species, which established that at least one hundred seventy-two bee species out of 1,928 were threatened with extinction in Europe.
The number of butterfly types threatened with extinction in European nations has risen from 37 to sixty-five since the last study, conducted 14 years ago. One species, the Madeiran large white (Pieris wollastoni) has now been confirmed extinct.
Apart from their aesthetic appeal and cultural value, pollinating insects like bees and butterflies are crucial elements for our physical condition, our food chains and our economies – sustaining the produce, vegetables and seeds that feed us,” said the IUCN director general. “The latest European red list assessments reveal major obstacles, with threats mounting for butterflies and vital native bee varieties.”
The causes of the quick recent decreases are the persistent destruction or damage of natural habitats caused by intensive agriculture and abandoned land, draining of wetlands, overgrazing by livestock, and the application of chemical fertilisers and pesticides including neonicotinoids. The breaking up of environments suitable for pollinators significantly raises the danger of extinctions at local level.
Global heating is also demonstrated to be a primary risk: Over half of all at-risk butterfly species in Europe are threatened by the climate crisis – about twofold the amount as a previous decade.
As many as 90% of plants that flower in the European continent rely on animal pollination, as per the wild bee assessment’s lead coordinator. “Regrettably, native bee groups are in drastic decline and cannot readily be substituted by domesticated hives,” he said. “If non-managed bees vanish, many non-cultivated plants might be at risk too – of which bloom-filled grasslands and beautiful orchid species are just a handful of illustrations.”
15 varieties of bumblebee species, which have an essential part in pollinating legumes like peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and 14 types of cellophane bee species, known for fertilizing trees such as willows and red maples, are now listed as threatened. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee exclusive to the European continent and the only species of this biological genus in the European continent, is now assessed as severely threatened – the scientific classification closest to extinction in the wild.
Butterflies that are solely present on mountain tops are highly susceptible to global heating as they have to climb upward as their environments become hotter but in the end have no room left. In southern Spain, the Nevada grayling and the Andalusian anomalous blue butterfly are among more than 40% of species endemic to Europe (only found in Europe) at risk of extinction.
In the Mediterranean area, varieties such as the highly at-risk Karpathos grayling are imperilled by extreme drought and wildfires.
At the same time, in the Arctic Circle, global warming is causing the tree line to advance northwards by tens of metres each year, with scrub encroaching on marsh and tundra. Hotter climates also mean reindeer can not anymore cross the ice to browse Arctic meadows and prevent them from overgrowing. Eight butterfly species are facing extinction in this zone, including Freyja’s fritillary butterfly and the ringlet of the Arctic.
“The largest environment for all these pollinating species is grassland rich in flowers and that is vanishing rapidly throughout Europe because of all these reasons,” said Martin Warren. “The good news is that so many citizens care now and there’s a lot more awareness. Under the EU nature restoration legislation, all participating nations have to reverse the decline in pollinating species by 2030, and they are going to have to begin taking action. There are property owners who are involved. It is hoped they can obtain the motivations that will support 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 may enhance it – such as growers creating margins rich in flowers around their farmland.
Jessika Roswall, described the protection status of wild bees, butterflies and other pollinators as “dire”.
“Urgent and collective action is required to tackle this threat. Together with member countries, the Commission of the European Union has put in place an Europe-wide tracking system for pollinating species based on the European Union nature restoration legislation, which will assist in monitoring our development. Now, we need to focus on implementation and partnership with member states to protect our pollinating species,” she said.
The publication of the evaluations of bees along with butterflies follows the pioneering European-wide evaluation of hoverflies, a further crucial pollinating insect category. Published in twenty-twenty-two, it disclosed that 37% of all hoverfly varieties in European nations were threatened with extinction.
