The total of native bee varieties in Europe experiencing disappearance has more than doubled in the last ten years, while the number of at-risk butterfly species has nearly doubled.
This pressing issue for essential pollinators was unveiled by scientific studies for the IUCN red list, which determined that at least one hundred seventy-two bee varieties out of 1,928 were threatened with extinction in Europe.
The total of butterfly types threatened with extinction in European nations has grown from thirty-seven to 65 since the earlier research, conducted 14 years ago. One type, the Madeiran large white (Pieris wollastoni) has now been classified as extinct.
Apart from their aesthetic appeal and cultural value, pollinating insects like bees and butterflies are crucial elements for our health, our food chains and our economic systems – maintaining the fruits, vegetables and seeds that nourish us,” commented Grethel Aguilar. “The newest European red list evaluations reveal serious challenges, with threats mounting for butterfly types and crucial native bee varieties.”
The causes of the quick recent decreases are the continuing destruction or damage of habitats caused by intensive agriculture and land abandonment, wetland drainage, excessive grazing by animals, and the use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides including neonicotinoid pesticides. The division of environments suitable for pollinators substantially boosts the threat of disappearances in specific areas.
Global heating is also shown to be a primary risk: 52% of all at-risk butterflies in European nations are endangered by the climate crisis – approximately twice as many as a previous decade.
Nearly nine out of ten of flowering plants in the European continent depend on pollination by animals, as per Dr Denis Michez. “Sadly, non-managed bee groups are in sharp decrease and are not easily replaceable by domesticated hives,” he said. “If wild bees die out, many wild plants might be in danger as well – of which flower-rich meadows and lovely orchid types are just a few examples.”
Fifteen species of bumblebee species, which have an essential part in fertilizing crops such as peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and 14 species of cellophane bees, known for pollinating trees such as willows along with red maples, are now listed as threatened. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee unique to the European continent and the only species of this biological genus in European nations, is now assessed as severely threatened – the scientific category closest to extinction in the wild.
Butterfly species that are only found on high-altitude areas are highly susceptible to global heating as they have to climb upward as their habitats become hotter but in the end run out of space. In Spain’s southern region, the Nevada grayling butterfly and the Andalusian anomalous blue butterfly are among over forty percent of species endemic to Europe (only found in Europe) threatened with extinction.
In the Mediterranean, varieties such as the severely threatened Karpathos grayling are endangered by severe drought and wildfires.
In the meantime, in the Arctic Circle, global warming is causing the timberline to advance northwards by tens of metres each year, with scrub invading wetlands and tundra. Hotter climates also mean Arctic deer can no more cross the ice to feed on Arctic meadows and keep them open. Eight butterfly species are threatened with extinction in this zone, including the fritillary of Freyja and the ringlet of the Arctic.
“The greatest habitat for all these pollinating species is flower-rich grassland and that is vanishing rapidly in the European continent because of all these reasons,” stated a lead coordinator for the butterfly assessment. “The good news is that so many citizens care now and there’s a lot more consciousness. Under the European Union nature restoration law, all member countries have to halt the drop in pollinators by the year 2030, and they are going to have to initiate measures. There are landowners who are engaged. It is hoped they can get the motivations that will support them on their way.”
As per the coordinator, there is “easy opportunities” in terms of measures for pollinating insects which will not lower food production – and could improve it – such as growers establishing flower-rich margins around their cultivated areas.
EU commissioner for environment, characterized the conservation status of native bees, butterflies and additional pollinators as “critical”.
“Prompt and unified steps is required to tackle this danger. Along with participating nations, the Commission of the European Union has established an European Union-wide monitoring system for pollinating insects based on the EU nature restoration regulation, which will aid in following our development. Now, we need to concentrate on application and cooperation with participating nations to safeguard our pollinators,” she said.
The publication of the assessments on bees and butterflies follows the initial European-wide study on hoverflies, another crucial pollinating insect category. Published in 2022, it revealed that over one-third of all hoverfly varieties in European nations were facing extinction.
