The count of wild bee types in the European continent confronting extinction has more than doubled in the last ten years, while the number of endangered butterfly species has close to doubled.
This critical situation for crucial pollinating species was unveiled by research studies for the IUCN red list, which established that at least over 170 bee species out of nearly two thousand were threatened with extinction in Europe.
The number of butterfly types at risk of extinction in Europe has grown from over thirty-five to sixty-five since the previous assessment, conducted 14 years ago. One type, the large white of Madeira (Pieris wollastoni) has now been declared extinct.
In addition to their beauty and cultural significance, pollinating insects like bees and butterfly species are crucial elements for our physical condition, our food systems and our financial structures – maintaining the produce, vegetables and seeds that sustain us,” commented Grethel Aguilar. “The most recent European red list assessments reveal serious challenges, with threats increasing for butterflies and vital non-managed bee species.”
The reasons of the swift recent drops are the continuing harm or degradation of natural habitats caused by farming intensification and land abandonment, wetland drainage, overgrazing by livestock, and the use of pesticides and fertilisers including neonicotinoid chemicals. The fragmentation of habitat friendly to pollinators significantly raises the risk of disappearances in specific areas.
Climate change is also revealed to be a significant danger: 52% of all threatened butterfly types in the European continent are imperilled by the climate crisis – about twice as many as a ten years ago.
Up to 90% of flowering plants in the European continent require insect pollination, as per Dr Denis Michez. “Regrettably, native bee populations are in severe drop and cannot be easily replaced by managed bee colonies,” he said. “If non-managed bees vanish, many wild plants might be at risk too – of which bloom-filled grasslands and beautiful orchid species are just a handful of illustrations.”
15 varieties of bumblebees, which perform a vital function in pollinating legumes like peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and fourteen varieties of cellophane bees, known for aiding tree pollination such as willow trees and red maples, are now classified as threatened. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee species exclusive to the European continent and the single type of this genus in European nations, is now evaluated as critically endangered – the research category nearest to extinction in the wild.
Butterflies that are exclusively located on high-altitude areas are particularly vulnerable to climate change as they have to climb upward as their environments become hotter but ultimately have no room left. In the southern part of Spain, the grayling of Nevada and the anomalous blue of Andalusia are among more than 40% of species endemic to Europe (only found in Europe) facing extinction.
In the Mediterranean region, varieties such as the highly at-risk Karpathos grayling are endangered by intense drought and wildfires.
At the same time, in the Arctic region, global heating is leading to the forest boundary to advance northwards by tens of metres each year, with bushes taking over marsh and tundra. Warmer conditions also mean caribou can no more cross the ice sheets to graze Arctic grasslands and maintain them clear. Eight butterfly species are facing extinction in this region, including the fritillary of Freyja and the ringlet of the Arctic.
“The biggest environment for all these pollinating species is flower-rich grassland and that is declining quickly across Europe because of all these factors,” stated Martin Warren. “The encouraging aspect is that so many individuals care now and there’s a lot more understanding. Under the European Union nature restoration law, all participating nations have to reverse the decline in pollinating insects by twenty-thirty, and they are going to have to begin taking action. There are property owners who are involved. Let’s hope they can receive the incentives that will assist them on their way.”
As per the coordinator, there is “readily achievable actions” in terms of action for pollinating insects which won’t reduce crop yields – and could improve it – such as growers establishing margins rich in flowers around their farmland.
Jessika Roswall, characterized the protection status of native bees, butterflies and additional pollinators as “critical”.
“Immediate and joint measures is needed to tackle this threat. Together with participating nations, the EU Commission has established an Europe-wide monitoring system for pollinating species based on the EU nature restoration regulation, which will assist in monitoring our progress. Now, we need to prioritize application and cooperation with participating nations to preserve our pollinators,” she said.
The release of the bee and butterfly assessments comes after the pioneering EU-wide assessment of hoverflies, another essential pollinating insect category. Issued in twenty-twenty-two, it showed that 37% of all hoverfly varieties in Europe were facing extinction.
