The total of wild bee types in European nations facing dying out has increased twofold during the previous ten-year period, and the count of endangered butterfly types has almost doubled.
This critical situation for crucial pollinating species was unveiled by scientific assessments for the IUCN red list, which determined that at least one hundred seventy-two bee types out of nearly two thousand were at risk of extinction in Europe.
The total of butterfly types at risk of extinction in Europe has grown from over thirty-five to sixty-five since the last study, conducted 14 years ago. One type, the Madeiran large white butterfly (Pieris wollastoni) has now been confirmed extinct.
“Beyond their visual charm and cultural significance, pollinating insects like bees along with butterflies are lifelines for our physical condition, our food chains and our economic systems – maintaining the fruits, vegetables and seeds that feed us,” stated the IUCN director general. “The most recent European red list evaluations reveal significant difficulties, with risks increasing for butterfly types and crucial non-managed bee types.”
The reasons of the quick recent decreases are the ongoing destruction or damage of habitats caused by agricultural intensification and land abandonment, draining wetlands, excessive grazing by animals, and the use of pesticides and fertilisers including neonicotinoids. The fragmentation of environments suitable for pollinators significantly raises the danger of disappearances in specific areas.
Climate change is also demonstrated to be a primary risk: Over half of all threatened butterfly species in the European continent are imperilled by the climate emergency – about twofold the amount as a ten years ago.
As many as 90% of blooming plants in the European continent require insect pollination, as per the lead coordinator of the wild bee assessment. “Sadly, native bee colonies are in sharp decrease and cannot be easily replaced by domesticated hives,” he said. “If wild bees vanish, many native plants might be in danger as well – of which meadows rich in flowers and beautiful orchid species are just a couple of instances.”
Fifteen types of bumblebee species, which perform a vital function in fertilizing crops such as peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and 14 species of cellophane bees, known for pollinating trees such as willow trees and red maples, are now categorized as at-risk. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee found only in the mainland and the sole species of this genus group in the European continent, is now evaluated as critically endangered – the scientific category most akin to dying out in natural habitats.
Butterfly types that are solely present on mountain tops are particularly vulnerable to global warming as they need to move uphill as their habitats become hotter but ultimately have no room left. In the southern part of Spain, the Nevada grayling butterfly and the Andalusian anomalous blue are among above 40 percent of European endemics (exclusive to Europe) at risk of extinction.
In the Mediterranean area, species such as the severely threatened grayling of Karpathos are imperilled by extreme wildfires and drought.
At the same time, in the Far North, climate change is leading to the tree line to advance northwards by dozens of meters each year, with scrub taking over marsh and tundra. Higher temperatures also mean caribou can no longer cross the ice to browse Arctic meadows and keep them open. Eight types of butterflies are threatened with extinction in this zone, including Freyja’s fritillary and the ringlet of the Arctic.
“The biggest living space for all these pollinating species is grassland rich in flowers and that is vanishing rapidly in Europe because of all these elements,” stated a lead coordinator for the butterfly assessment. “The encouraging aspect is that so many citizens are concerned now and there’s a lot more understanding. Under the EU nature restoration legislation, all member states have to turn around the decline in pollinating species by the year 2030, and they are going to have to begin taking action. There are property owners who are interested. It is hoped they can receive the motivations that will assist them on their way.”
As stated by Martin Warren, there is “readily achievable actions” in terms of action for pollinating species which won’t reduce crop yields – and may enhance it – such as farmers establishing bloom-filled edges around their fields.
EU commissioner for environment, portrayed the conservation status of non-managed bees, butterfly species and other pollinating insects as “critical”.
“Prompt and unified steps is required to tackle this risk. Together with member countries, the European Commission has implemented an EU-wide observation system for pollinating species based on the EU nature restoration regulation, which will assist in monitoring our advancement. Now, we need to prioritize implementation and collaboration with member countries to safeguard our pollinating species,” she said.
The issuance of the bee and butterfly assessments comes after the initial European-wide assessment of hoverflies, another essential pollinating insect category. Released in 2022, it showed that 37% of all hoverfly varieties in European nations were facing extinction.
