The total of native bee varieties in Europe experiencing dying out has more than doubled over the past decade, while the count of threatened butterfly types has almost doubled.
This pressing issue for vital pollinating insects was disclosed by research studies for the red list of threatened species, which determined that at least over 170 bee species out of over 1900 were threatened with extinction in European nations.
The count of butterflies at risk of extinction in European nations has risen from over thirty-five to sixty-five since the earlier research, conducted 14 years ago. One species, the large white of Madeira (Pieris wollastoni) has now been classified as extinct.
In addition to their beauty and cultural value, pollinating species like bees and butterfly species are crucial elements for our well-being, our food systems and our financial structures – sustaining the fruits, veggies and seeds that sustain us,” said the IUCN’s director general. “The newest assessments of the European red list reveal major obstacles, with threats increasing for butterfly types and essential non-managed bee species.”
The reasons of the quick recent decreases are the continuing damage or destruction of habitats caused by agricultural intensification and abandoned land, draining of wetlands, livestock overgrazing, and the use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides including neonicotinoids. The breaking up of habitat friendly to pollinators greatly increases the risk of local extinctions.
Climate change is also revealed to be a primary risk: 52% of all endangered butterfly species in European nations are threatened by the climate change crisis – roughly double the number as a ten years ago.
Nearly ninety percent of plants that flower in the European continent rely on animal pollination, according to the wild bee assessment’s lead coordinator. “Sadly, native bee groups are in severe drop and are not easily replaceable by domesticated hives,” he said. “If wild bees die out, many non-cultivated plants might be in danger as well – of which bloom-filled grasslands and attractive orchid varieties are just a few examples.”
Fifteen types of bumblebees, which have an essential part in pollinating peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and 14 types of cellophane bee species, recognized for pollinating trees such as willows and red maples, are now listed as threatened. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee type exclusive to the mainland and the sole species of this biological genus in Europe, is now evaluated as severely threatened – the scientific classification closest to extinction in the wild.
Butterfly species that are solely present on mountain tops are especially at risk to global warming as they have to climb upward as their living spaces become more heated but ultimately run out of space. In the southern part of Spain, the grayling of Nevada and the Andalusian anomalous blue are among more than 40% of types unique to Europe (only found in Europe) threatened with extinction.
In the Mediterranean area, varieties such as the critically endangered Karpathos grayling butterfly are imperilled by extreme dry conditions and fires.
At the same time, in the Arctic Circle, climate change is resulting in the tree line to advance northwards by many meters each year, with scrub encroaching on marsh and tundra. Higher temperatures also mean reindeer can not anymore cross the ice sheets to browse Arctic grasslands and prevent them from overgrowing. Eight types of butterflies are at risk of extinction in this area, including the fritillary of Freyja and the ringlet of the Arctic.
“The biggest habitat for all these pollinators is flower-rich grassland and that is vanishing rapidly in Europe because of all these reasons,” stated one of the lead coordinators of the butterflies assessment. “The positive thing is that so many people are concerned now and there’s a lot more understanding. Under the EU nature restoration legislation, all member countries have to halt the decline in pollinators by 2030, and they are going to have to initiate measures. There are landowners who are interested. We hope they can get the encouragements that will assist them on their way.”
According to Martin Warren, there is “readily achievable actions” in terms of measures for pollinators which will not lower food production – and may enhance it – such as agricultural producers establishing margins rich in flowers around their fields.
EU commissioner for environment, portrayed the preservation condition of non-managed bees, butterfly species and other pollinating insects as “dire”.
“Prompt and unified steps is necessary to confront this threat. Along with member countries, the European Commission has implemented an European Union-wide observation system for pollinating insects based on the EU nature restoration law, which will assist in monitoring our progress. Now, we need to focus on application and collaboration with participating nations to safeguard our pollinating species,” she said.
The publication of the evaluations of bees along with butterflies is subsequent to the pioneering EU-wide assessment of hoverflies, a further crucial pollinating insect category. Issued in 2022, it showed that 37% of all hoverfly varieties in the European continent were at risk of extinction.
