The count of wild bee species in Europe facing dying out has more than doubled during the previous ten-year period, while the total of endangered butterfly has close to doubled.
This critical situation for vital pollinators was revealed by research studies for the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) red list, which determined that at least one hundred seventy-two bee varieties out of over 1900 were facing extinction in the European continent.
The total of butterfly species facing extinction in European nations has risen from over thirty-five to over sixty since the previous assessment, conducted over a decade past. One species, the Madeiran large white butterfly (Pieris wollastoni) has now been confirmed extinct.
Apart from their aesthetic appeal and cultural importance, pollinating insects like bees along with butterflies are essential supports for our physical condition, our food chains and our financial structures – sustaining the fruits, vegetables and seeds that feed us,” said the IUCN director general. “The most recent European red list evaluations reveal serious challenges, with risks growing for butterfly species and vital native bee types.”
The causes of the quick recent decreases are the continuing destruction or damage of living environments caused by intensive agriculture and abandoned land, wetland drainage, excessive grazing by animals, and the utilization of pesticides and fertilisers including neonicotinoid pesticides. The fragmentation of environments suitable for pollinators greatly increases the threat of disappearances in specific areas.
Global heating is also shown to be a primary risk: Over half of all endangered butterfly types in Europe are imperilled by the climate emergency – about double the number as a decade ago.
As many as 90% of plants that flower in European nations rely on insect pollination, as stated by Dr Denis Michez. “Unfortunately, native bee groups are in severe drop and cannot be easily replaced by managed colonies,” he said. “If non-managed bees vanish, many non-cultivated plants might be at risk too – of which meadows rich in flowers and attractive orchid varieties are just a couple of instances.”
Fifteen types of bumblebee species, which have an essential part in aiding the pollination of peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and 14 species of cellophane bee species, known for pollinating trees such as willows and red maples, are now classified as threatened. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee type unique to the mainland and the sole species of this genus in Europe, is now assessed as severely threatened – the scientific category nearest to disappearance in the wild.
Butterfly species that are only found on mountain tops are especially at risk to global warming as they have to climb upward as their habitats become hotter but in the end exhaust available space. In southern Spain, the grayling of Nevada and the Andalusian anomalous blue butterfly are among more than 40% of types unique to Europe (exclusive to Europe) at risk of extinction.
In the Mediterranean area, types such as the severely threatened Karpathos grayling are threatened by intense dry conditions and fires.
In the meantime, in the Far North, climate change is resulting in the forest boundary to advance northwards by tens of metres each year, with bushes taking over bog and tundra. Warmer conditions also mean caribou can no longer cross the frozen water to feed on northern grasslands and keep them open. 8 butterfly varieties are at risk of extinction in this region, including Freyja’s fritillary and the Arctic ringlet butterfly.
“The greatest living space for all these pollinating species is grassland rich in flowers and that is vanishing rapidly across Europe because of all these factors,” said one of the lead coordinators of the butterflies assessment. “The positive thing is that so many individuals are aware now and there’s a lot more consciousness. Under the EU’s nature restoration regulation, all member states have to halt the decrease in pollinating insects by 2030, and they are going to have to initiate measures. There are land holders who are interested. Let’s hope they can receive the incentives that will help them on their way.”
As stated by Warren, there is “easy opportunities” in terms of measures for pollinating species which will not decrease food production – and may enhance it – such as agricultural producers creating bloom-filled edges around their fields.
Jessika Roswall, described the preservation condition of wild bees, butterflies and other pollinators as “critical”.
“Prompt and unified steps is required to confront this danger. Together with member states, the EU Commission has put in place an EU-wide observation system for pollinating insects based on the European Union nature restoration legislation, which will help to track our development. Now, we need to concentrate on implementation and cooperation with member countries to preserve our pollinating insects,” she said.
The publication of the assessments on bees and butterflies comes after the initial EU-wide evaluation of hoverflies, an additional essential pollinator group. Issued in 2022, it disclosed that 37% of all hoverfly varieties in Europe were at risk of extinction.
