The count of non-managed bee species in the European continent facing extinction has increased twofold during the previous ten-year period, whereas the count of threatened butterfly species has almost doubled.
This dire scenario for essential pollinators was unveiled by scientific assessments for the red list of threatened species, which determined that at least over 170 bee species out of 1,928 were threatened with extinction in European nations.
The count of butterfly types threatened with extinction in Europe has risen from 37 to over sixty since the earlier research, carried out a decade and a half ago. One species, the large white of Madeira (Pieris wollastoni) has now been confirmed extinct.
“Beyond their aesthetic appeal and cultural significance, pollinating insects like bees and butterflies are essential supports for our well-being, our food systems and our financial structures – sustaining the fruits, veggies and seeds that sustain us,” stated the IUCN’s director general. “The newest assessments of the European red list reveal major obstacles, with dangers increasing for butterflies and essential wild bee types.”
The reasons of the swift recent drops are the persistent destruction or damage of living environments caused by intensive agriculture and abandoned land, wetland drainage, livestock overgrazing, and the use of pesticides and fertilisers including neonicotinoid chemicals. The division of environments suitable for pollinators greatly increases the danger of extinctions at local level.
Global heating is also demonstrated to be a significant danger: 52% of all endangered butterflies in Europe are imperilled by the climate change crisis – roughly double the number as a decade ago.
As many as ninety percent of plants that flower in the European continent depend on animal pollination, as per the wild bee assessment’s lead coordinator. “Unfortunately, native bee populations are in drastic decline and cannot be easily replaced by managed colonies,” he said. “If native bees disappear, many native plants might be at risk too – of which bloom-filled grasslands and lovely orchid types are just a couple of instances.”
15 varieties of bumblebee species, which have an essential part in pollinating 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 listed as threatened. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee unique to the European continent and the single type of this genus group in Europe, is now assessed as critically at risk – the scientific classification nearest to dying out in natural habitats.
Butterfly types that are exclusively located on mountain peaks are especially at risk to global heating as they must ascend higher as their environments become hotter but ultimately have no room left. In Spain’s southern region, the Nevada grayling and the Andalusian anomalous blue are among above 40 percent of species endemic to Europe (solely present in Europe) at risk of extinction.
In the Mediterranean region, types such as the critically endangered Karpathos grayling butterfly are threatened by intense drought and wildfires.
In the meantime, in the Far North, global heating is resulting in the timberline to advance northwards by tens of metres each year, with scrub invading wetlands and tundra. Higher temperatures also mean reindeer can no longer cross the frozen water to feed on northern grasslands and prevent them from overgrowing. Eight types of butterflies are at risk of extinction in this area, including Freyja’s fritillary butterfly and the ringlet of the Arctic.
“The biggest environment for all these pollinating species is bloom-filled grassy areas and that is declining quickly across the European continent because of all these reasons,” stated a lead coordinator for the butterfly assessment. “The good news is that so many citizens are aware now and there’s a lot more awareness. Under the EU’s nature restoration regulation, all member countries have to reverse the decrease in pollinators by 2030, and they are going to have to initiate measures. There are property owners who are engaged. Let’s hope they can obtain the encouragements that will support them on their way.”
According to Warren, there is “low-hanging fruit” in terms of steps for pollinators which will not lower crop yields – and could improve it – such as farmers establishing bloom-filled edges around their cultivated areas.
Jessika Roswall, characterized the protection status of wild bees, butterflies and other pollinators as “dire”.
“Prompt and unified steps is required to tackle this risk. In collaboration with member states, the EU Commission has established an Europe-wide monitoring system for pollinating species based on the EU nature restoration law, which will assist in monitoring our advancement. Now, we need to focus on implementation and partnership with participating nations to safeguard our pollinators,” she said.
The release of the evaluations of bees along with butterflies is subsequent to the pioneering Europe-wide assessment of hoverflies, another vital pollinating insect category. Released in 2022, it showed that 37% of all hoverfly varieties in European nations were facing extinction.
