The total of wild bee species in Europe confronting disappearance has increased twofold in the last ten years, and the count of endangered butterfly types has nearly doubled.
This critical situation for vital pollinating species was unveiled by scientific assessments for the IUCN red list, which determined that at least 172 bee types out of over 1900 were facing extinction in the European continent.
The total of butterfly types facing extinction in the European continent has risen from thirty-seven to sixty-five since the previous assessment, performed over a decade past. One type, the Madeiran large white butterfly (Pieris wollastoni) has now been classified as extinct.
“Beyond their aesthetic appeal and cultural importance, pollinators like bees and butterflies are lifelines for our health, our food chains and our economies – supporting the fruits, vegetables and seeds that nourish us,” commented the IUCN’s director general. “The most recent assessments of the European red list reveal significant difficulties, with dangers increasing for butterfly types and vital non-managed bee species.”
The factors of the quick recent decreases are the continuing harm or degradation of natural habitats caused by agricultural intensification and deserted farmland, draining wetlands, overgrazing by livestock, and the utilization of pesticides and fertilisers including neonicotinoid pesticides. The breaking up of environments suitable for pollinators substantially boosts the risk of extinctions at local level.
Global heating is also demonstrated to be a major threat: Over half of all threatened butterflies in Europe are imperilled by the climate change crisis – roughly double the number as a decade ago.
Nearly nine out of ten of blooming plants in European nations rely on animal pollination, as stated by Dr Denis Michez. “Regrettably, non-managed bee populations are in drastic decline and cannot readily be substituted by domesticated hives,” he said. “If wild bees die out, many native plants might be at risk too – of which bloom-filled grasslands and lovely orchid types are just a handful of illustrations.”
15 varieties of bumblebees, which have an essential part in pollinating crops such as peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and 14 types of cellophane bee types, famous for aiding tree pollination such as willow trees and red maples, are now categorized as at-risk. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee type unique to the European continent and the sole species of this biological genus in the European continent, is now assessed as severely threatened – the research category closest to disappearance in the wild.
Butterfly species that are solely present on mountain peaks are highly susceptible to climate change as they have to climb upward as their living spaces become warmer but eventually exhaust available space. In Spain’s southern region, the Nevada grayling butterfly and the Andalusian anomalous blue butterfly are among more than 40% of types unique to Europe (exclusive to Europe) threatened with extinction.
In the Mediterranean region, varieties such as the critically endangered grayling of Karpathos are endangered by extreme wildfires and drought.
At the same time, in the Arctic Circle, global warming is resulting in the tree line to move north by tens of metres each year, with scrub taking over wetlands and tundra. Warmer conditions also mean caribou can no longer cross the frozen water to browse northern grasslands and prevent them from overgrowing. Eight types of butterflies are facing extinction in this region, including Freyja’s fritillary butterfly and the ringlet of the Arctic.
“The biggest 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,” stated Martin Warren. “The positive thing is that so many citizens care now and there’s a lot more awareness. Under the EU nature restoration legislation, all member countries have to reverse the drop in pollinators by the year 2030, and they are going to have to begin taking action. There are land holders who are engaged. It is hoped they can obtain the incentives that will support them on their way.”
As per the coordinator, there is “low-hanging fruit” in terms of action for pollinators which won’t reduce food production – and may enhance it – such as growers developing flower-rich margins around their fields.
EU commissioner for environment, described the conservation status of wild bees, butterflies and other pollinators as “severe”.
“Immediate and joint measures is necessary to confront this threat. Along with participating nations, the European Commission has implemented an Europe-wide tracking system for pollinating insects based on the EU nature restoration law, which will help to track our development. Now, we need to prioritize application and partnership with member states to preserve our pollinators,” she said.
The release of the evaluations of bees along with butterflies is subsequent to the initial European-wide assessment of hoverflies, an additional essential group of pollinators. Published in twenty-twenty-two, it revealed that 37% of all hoverfly types in Europe were facing extinction.
