The number of wild bee varieties in European nations confronting extinction has more than doubled over the past decade, while the number of threatened butterfly species has close to doubled.
This critical situation for essential pollinating species was disclosed by scientific studies for the IUCN red list, which determined that at least 172 bee types out of 1,928 were at risk of extinction in European nations.
The total of butterfly types threatened with extinction in European nations has risen from over thirty-five to 65 since the last study, conducted a decade and a half ago. A single species, the large white of Madeira (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 health, our food chains and our economies – supporting the fruits, veggies and seeds that nourish us,” stated Grethel Aguilar. “The newest European red list assessments reveal serious challenges, with risks increasing for butterflies and crucial non-managed bee species.”
The reasons of the rapid recent declines are the ongoing harm or degradation of living environments caused by agricultural intensification and abandoned land, wetland drainage, livestock overgrazing, and the utilization of fertilisers and pesticides including neonicotinoids. The breaking up of pollinator-friendly habitat significantly raises the threat of extinctions at local level.
Global warming is also shown to be a primary risk: Fifty-two percent of all at-risk butterfly species in the European continent are threatened by the climate emergency – roughly twice as many as a ten years ago.
Up to nine out of ten of flowering plants in Europe require pollination by animals, as stated by Dr Denis Michez. “Regrettably, native bee colonies are in drastic decline and cannot readily be substituted 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 attractive orchid varieties are just a couple of instances.”
15 varieties of bumblebees, which play a crucial role in aiding the pollination of peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and fourteen varieties of cellophane bees, known for aiding tree pollination such as willows along with red maples, are now listed as threatened. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee found only in the continent and the single type of this genus group in the European continent, is now evaluated as critically at risk – the scientific classification nearest to extinction in the wild.
Butterfly species that are exclusively located on mountain peaks are especially at risk to climate change as they must ascend higher as their living spaces become warmer but eventually have no room left. In southern Spain, the Nevada grayling and the Andalusian anomalous blue butterfly are among more than 40% of European endemics (only found in Europe) at risk of extinction.
In the Mediterranean, varieties such as the highly at-risk Karpathos grayling are threatened by severe drought and wildfires.
In the meantime, in the Far North, global warming is leading to the tree line to advance northwards by tens of metres each year, with scrub invading marsh and tundra. Warmer conditions also mean reindeer can not anymore 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 butterfly and the ringlet of the Arctic.
“The greatest living space for all these pollinators is flower-rich grassland and that is disappearing very fast across the European continent because of all these elements,” said Martin Warren. “The good news is that so many people are concerned now and there’s a lot more awareness. Under the EU nature restoration legislation, all participating nations have to turn around the decline in pollinating insects by 2030, and they are going to have to start doing something. There are property owners who are involved. We hope they can receive the encouragements that will help them on their way.”
As per the coordinator, there is “easy opportunities” in terms of action for pollinating insects which won’t reduce agricultural output – and may enhance it – such as agricultural producers developing flower-rich margins around their cultivated areas.
the EU’s environment commissioner, described the preservation condition of non-managed bees, butterfly species and other pollinating insects as “severe”.
“Prompt and unified steps is required to confront this danger. Along with member states, the Commission of the European Union has implemented an EU-wide tracking system for pollinating species based on the EU nature restoration regulation, which will aid in following our advancement. Now, we need to prioritize application and cooperation with member countries to protect our pollinating species,” she said.
The publication of the assessments on bees and butterflies comes after the first European-wide assessment of hoverflies, a further vital pollinator group. Issued in 2022, it disclosed that thirty-seven percent of all hoverfly varieties in the European continent were facing extinction.
