The number of native bee species in the European continent confronting disappearance has over doubled during the previous ten-year period, whereas the number of endangered butterfly has nearly doubled.
This dire scenario for crucial pollinators was disclosed by research studies for the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) red list, which found that at least one hundred seventy-two bee types out of 1,928 were threatened with extinction in European nations.
The number of butterfly types facing extinction in the European continent has increased from over thirty-five to sixty-five since the previous assessment, conducted over a decade past. One type, the Madeiran large white butterfly (Pieris wollastoni) has now been classified as extinct.
Apart from their visual charm and cultural importance, pollinating species like bees and butterflies are crucial elements for our physical condition, our food supplies and our economies – supporting the produce, vegetables and seeds that nourish us,” commented the IUCN director general. “The newest assessments of the European red list reveal significant difficulties, with threats mounting for butterfly species and crucial wild bee types.”
The causes of the swift recent drops are the continuing damage or destruction of living environments caused by farming intensification and deserted farmland, draining wetlands, excessive grazing by animals, and the application of fertilisers and pesticides including neonicotinoid pesticides. The fragmentation of pollinator-friendly habitat substantially boosts the danger of local extinctions.
Global warming is also shown to be a significant danger: 52% of all endangered butterfly types in the European continent are imperilled by the climate crisis – roughly twice as many as a previous decade.
Nearly 90% of flowering plants in the European continent rely on animal pollination, as stated by the wild bee assessment’s lead coordinator. “Sadly, wild bee colonies are in drastic decline and cannot be easily replaced by managed bee colonies,” he said. “If non-managed bees disappear, many non-cultivated plants might be in danger as well – of which flower-rich meadows and lovely orchid types are just a few examples.”
Fifteen types of bumblebee types, which have an essential part in aiding the pollination of crops such as peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and 14 types of cellophane bee species, known for pollinating trees such as willow trees and red maples, are now categorized as at-risk. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee found only in the mainland and the single type of this biological genus in European nations, is now assessed as critically at risk – the research category closest to disappearance in the wild.
Butterflies that are exclusively located on mountain tops are especially at risk to global heating as they have to climb upward as their environments become hotter but eventually exhaust available space. In Spain’s southern region, the Nevada grayling and the anomalous blue of Andalusia are among over forty percent of European endemics (only found in Europe) at risk of extinction.
In the Mediterranean region, types such as the severely threatened Karpathos grayling are endangered by severe dry conditions and fires.
At the same time, in the Far North, global heating is resulting in the timberline to move north by dozens of meters each year, with scrub invading bog and tundra. Higher temperatures also mean reindeer can not anymore cross the ice sheets to feed on Arctic grasslands and keep them open. Eight butterfly species are facing extinction in this area, including the fritillary of Freyja and the Arctic ringlet butterfly.
“The greatest habitat for all these pollinating insects is flower-rich grassland and that is vanishing rapidly across the European continent because of all these elements,” remarked a lead coordinator for the butterfly assessment. “The encouraging aspect is that so many citizens are concerned now and there’s a lot more consciousness. Under the EU nature restoration legislation, all participating nations have to halt the decline in pollinating species by 2030, and they are going to have to initiate measures. There are property owners who are involved. It is hoped they can get the motivations that will help them on their way.”
According to the coordinator, there is “easy opportunities” in terms of action for pollinating insects which will not decrease food production – and could improve it – such as agricultural producers establishing margins rich in flowers around their fields.
EU commissioner for environment, characterized the protection status of non-managed bees, butterfly species and other pollinating insects as “critical”.
“Immediate and joint measures is necessary to tackle this danger. Along with member countries, the European Commission has established an Europe-wide tracking system for pollinators based on the European Union nature restoration legislation, which will aid in following our development. Now, we need to concentrate on execution and collaboration with participating nations to protect our pollinating species,” she said.
The issuance of the evaluations of bees along with butterflies comes after the pioneering Europe-wide study on hoverflies, a further vital pollinator group. Released in 2022, it revealed that 37% of all hoverfly types in the European continent were at risk of extinction.
