The count of wild bee varieties in the European continent facing dying out has more than doubled over the past decade, whereas the number of endangered butterfly has close to doubled.
This critical situation for essential pollinators was unveiled by research studies for the red list of threatened species, which determined that at least one hundred seventy-two bee species out of 1,928 were at risk of extinction in Europe.
The count of butterfly species at risk of extinction in European nations has grown from 37 to over sixty since the previous assessment, conducted a decade and a half ago. A single species, the Madeiran large white butterfly (Pieris wollastoni) has now been declared extinct.
“Beyond their aesthetic appeal and cultural importance, pollinators like bees along with butterflies are lifelines for our physical condition, our food supplies and our financial structures – sustaining the fruits, vegetables and seeds that nourish us,” commented the IUCN director general. “The newest assessments of the European red list reveal major obstacles, with dangers growing for butterflies and vital wild bee types.”
The causes of the rapid recent declines are the continuing damage or destruction of habitats caused by farming intensification and abandoned land, draining of wetlands, overgrazing by livestock, and the use of pesticides and fertilisers including neonicotinoid pesticides. The division of pollinator-friendly habitat substantially boosts the risk of extinctions at local level.
Global heating is also shown to be a primary risk: Over half of all threatened butterfly types in European nations are endangered by the climate emergency – about double the number as a ten years ago.
As many as ninety percent of plants that flower in the European continent rely on animal pollination, as per the lead coordinator of the wild bee assessment. “Unfortunately, wild bee groups are in severe drop and are not easily replaceable by managed bee colonies,” he said. “If non-managed bees die out, many wild plants might be at risk too – of which meadows rich in flowers and beautiful orchid species are just a handful of illustrations.”
Fifteen types of bumblebee species, which play a crucial role in aiding the pollination of peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and fourteen varieties of cellophane bee types, famous for pollinating trees such as willow trees and red maples, are now listed as threatened. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee type unique to the European continent and the only species of this genus group in Europe, is now classified as critically endangered – the research category closest to dying out in natural habitats.
Butterfly species that are solely present on high-altitude areas are especially at risk to global warming as they need to move uphill as their habitats become warmer but ultimately run out of space. In southern Spain, the Nevada grayling butterfly and the Andalusian anomalous blue are among over forty percent of species endemic to Europe (exclusive to Europe) facing extinction.
In the Mediterranean area, species such as the highly at-risk Karpathos grayling butterfly are endangered by severe drought and wildfires.
Meanwhile, in the Arctic region, climate change is resulting in the forest boundary to move north by dozens of meters each year, with underbrush invading wetlands and tundra. Warmer conditions also mean Arctic deer can not anymore cross the ice sheets to graze Arctic grasslands and prevent them from overgrowing. Eight butterfly species are facing extinction in this region, including Freyja’s fritillary butterfly and the ringlet of the Arctic.
“The biggest environment for all these pollinating species is grassland rich in flowers and that is declining quickly throughout European nations because of all these elements,” said a lead coordinator for the butterfly assessment. “The positive thing is that so many citizens care now and there’s a lot more understanding. Under the European Union nature restoration law, all member states have to turn around the decrease in pollinating species by twenty-thirty, and they are going to have to start doing something. There are property owners who are involved. It is hoped they can receive the incentives that will support them on their way.”
As per Martin Warren, there is “readily achievable actions” in terms of measures for pollinators which won’t reduce crop yields – and could improve it – such as agricultural producers establishing bloom-filled edges around their fields.
EU commissioner for environment, characterized the conservation status of native bees, butterflies and additional pollinators as “dire”.
“Prompt and unified steps is needed to tackle this danger. Together with member states, the European Commission has implemented an European Union-wide monitoring system for pollinating species based on the EU nature restoration law, which will aid in following our progress. Now, we need to focus on application and collaboration with participating nations to safeguard our pollinating insects,” she said.
The issuance of the assessments on bees and butterflies follows the first EU-wide study on hoverflies, a further essential pollinator group. Issued in 2022, it disclosed that over one-third of all hoverfly species in Europe were threatened with extinction.
