The count of wild bee types in the European continent confronting disappearance has more than doubled during the previous ten-year period, while the count of threatened butterfly species has close to doubled.
This critical situation for essential pollinating species was unveiled by research studies for the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) red list, which established that at least over 170 bee types out of nearly two thousand were facing extinction in Europe.
The total of butterfly types facing extinction in Europe has risen from over thirty-five to 65 since the earlier research, performed over a decade past. One species, the Madeiran large white butterfly (Pieris wollastoni) has now been confirmed extinct.
In addition to their visual charm and cultural significance, pollinating insects like bees along with butterflies are lifelines for our health, our food systems and our financial structures – sustaining the fruits, vegetables and seeds that nourish us,” stated the IUCN’s director general. “The most recent European red list assessments reveal serious challenges, with threats increasing for butterfly species and essential native bee species.”
The causes of the swift recent drops are the continuing destruction or damage of habitats caused by agricultural intensification and deserted farmland, wetland drainage, excessive grazing by animals, and the use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides including neonicotinoid chemicals. The fragmentation of habitat friendly to pollinators greatly increases the risk of local extinctions.
Global warming is also revealed to be a primary risk: 52% of all threatened butterflies in the European continent are endangered by the climate emergency – approximately double the number as a previous decade.
As many as nine out of ten of blooming plants in Europe depend on insect pollination, as stated by the wild bee assessment’s lead coordinator. “Unfortunately, native bee groups are in drastic decline and cannot be easily replaced by domesticated hives,” he said. “If non-managed bees disappear, many wild plants might be threatened too – of which meadows rich in flowers and beautiful orchid species are just a couple of instances.”
Fifteen types of bumblebees, which perform a vital function in pollinating crops such as peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and 14 species of cellophane bee species, known for fertilizing trees such as willow trees and red maples, are now classified as threatened. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee species found only in the continent and the only species of this genus group in European nations, is now classified as critically endangered – the research category nearest to extinction in the wild.
Butterflies that are solely present on mountain tops are especially at risk to climate change as they need to move uphill as their environments become warmer but ultimately have no room left. In the southern part of Spain, the Nevada grayling and the Andalusian anomalous blue are among more than 40% of species endemic to Europe (solely present in Europe) facing extinction.
In the Mediterranean, species such as the severely threatened grayling of Karpathos are endangered by severe dry conditions and fires.
In the meantime, in the Arctic Circle, global warming is causing the tree line to shift northward by tens of metres each year, with bushes taking over wetlands and tundra. Warmer conditions also mean Arctic deer can no more cross the ice sheets to browse Arctic meadows and maintain them clear. 8 butterfly varieties are facing extinction in this zone, including Freyja’s fritillary butterfly and the ringlet of the Arctic.
“The biggest living space for all these pollinating species is flower-rich grassland and that is declining quickly in Europe because of all these elements,” stated Martin Warren. “The positive thing is that so many citizens are aware now and there’s a lot more understanding. Under the European Union nature restoration law, all member countries have to turn around the drop in pollinating insects by the year 2030, and they are going to have to begin taking action. There are landowners who are involved. Let’s hope they can receive the encouragements that will assist them on their way.”
As per Warren, there is “readily achievable actions” in terms of steps for pollinating species which won’t reduce crop yields – and may enhance it – such as farmers developing flower-rich margins around their farmland.
the EU’s environment commissioner, portrayed the conservation status of non-managed bees, butterfly species and other pollinating insects as “severe”.
“Prompt and unified steps is needed to confront this risk. Together with member states, the Commission of the European Union has implemented an EU-wide observation system for pollinating insects based on the EU nature restoration regulation, which will aid in following our progress. Now, we need to concentrate on application and cooperation with participating nations to preserve our pollinating species,” she said.
The publication of the bee and butterfly assessments follows the first European-wide study on hoverflies, an additional vital group of pollinators. Issued in 2022, it revealed that over one-third of all hoverfly species in European nations were at risk of extinction.
