The count of native bee species in European nations confronting dying out has increased twofold over the past decade, whereas the total of endangered butterfly species has almost doubled.
This dire scenario for crucial pollinating species was disclosed by research studies for the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) red list, which determined that at least 172 bee species out of over 1900 were threatened with extinction in the European continent.
The total of butterflies facing extinction in the European continent has grown from thirty-seven to 65 since the last study, carried out a decade and a half ago. One type, the Madeiran large white butterfly (Pieris wollastoni) has now been classified as extinct.
In addition to their beauty and cultural significance, pollinators like bees along with butterflies are essential supports for our health, our food chains and our economic systems – supporting the fruits, vegetables and seeds that feed us,” said the IUCN director general. “The most recent European red list assessments reveal serious challenges, with risks increasing for butterfly species and crucial non-managed bee species.”
The causes of the quick recent decreases are the ongoing damage or destruction of habitats caused by intensive agriculture and abandoned land, wetland drainage, overgrazing by livestock, and the utilization of chemical fertilisers and pesticides including neonicotinoid pesticides. The division of habitat friendly to pollinators substantially boosts the threat of local extinctions.
Climate change is also demonstrated to be a primary risk: 52% of all endangered butterflies in European nations are threatened by the climate crisis – roughly twofold the amount as a ten years ago.
Up to nine out of ten of blooming plants in the European continent depend on animal pollination, according to the lead coordinator of the wild bee assessment. “Unfortunately, wild bee colonies are in drastic decline and cannot readily be substituted by managed colonies,” he said. “If wild bees die out, many non-cultivated plants might be at risk too – of which flower-rich meadows and beautiful orchid species are just a handful of illustrations.”
Fifteen types of bumblebees, which play a crucial role in pollinating peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and 14 species of cellophane bees, recognized for fertilizing trees such as willows and red maples, are now categorized as at-risk. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee type found only in the European continent and the single type of this genus group in the European continent, is now classified as critically at risk – the scientific category closest to disappearance in the wild.
Butterflies that are exclusively located on high-altitude areas are especially at risk to global warming as they must ascend higher as their habitats become warmer but eventually run out of space. In southern Spain, the Nevada grayling and the Andalusian anomalous blue are among over forty percent of species endemic to Europe (exclusive to Europe) threatened with extinction.
In the Mediterranean region, types such as the highly at-risk Karpathos grayling are threatened by extreme drought and wildfires.
In the meantime, in the Arctic region, global warming is causing the timberline to advance northwards by dozens of meters each year, with scrub encroaching on wetlands and tundra. Higher temperatures also mean reindeer can no longer cross the frozen water to browse northern grasslands and maintain them clear. Eight butterfly species are facing extinction in this region, including Freyja’s fritillary and the ringlet of the Arctic.
“The largest environment for all these pollinating species is flower-rich grassland and that is vanishing rapidly across Europe because of all these elements,” remarked one of the lead coordinators of the butterflies assessment. “The positive thing is that so many people care now and there’s a lot more consciousness. Under the EU’s nature restoration regulation, all participating nations have to reverse the decrease in pollinating species by the year 2030, and they are going to have to initiate measures. There are property owners who are involved. It is hoped they can receive the incentives that will help them on their way.”
As stated by the coordinator, there is “easy opportunities” in terms of action for pollinators which won’t reduce crop yields – and might boost it – such as agricultural producers creating flower-rich margins around their cultivated areas.
EU commissioner for environment, portrayed the preservation condition of wild bees, butterflies and other pollinators as “severe”.
“Urgent and collective action is necessary to tackle this threat. In collaboration with member states, the European Commission has put in place an Europe-wide observation system for pollinating species based on the EU nature restoration regulation, which will help to track our advancement. Now, we need to focus on application and collaboration with member countries to protect our pollinating species,” she said.
The publication of the evaluations of bees along with butterflies comes after the pioneering Europe-wide assessment of hoverflies, an additional crucial group of pollinators. Published in 2022, it disclosed that thirty-seven percent of all hoverfly types in Europe were at risk of extinction.
