The count of non-managed bee varieties in Europe facing disappearance has more than doubled over the past decade, and the count of at-risk butterfly types has almost doubled.
This pressing issue for vital pollinators was unveiled by research studies for the IUCN red list, which determined that at least 172 bee types out of over 1900 were facing extinction in European nations.
The total of butterfly species at risk of extinction in the European continent has increased from 37 to 65 since the previous assessment, carried out 14 years ago. One type, the Madeiran large white (Pieris wollastoni) has now been confirmed extinct.
“Beyond their visual charm and cultural significance, pollinating insects like bees and butterfly species are essential supports for our health, our food chains and our financial structures – supporting the fruits, veggies and seeds that sustain us,” said the IUCN’s director general. “The latest European red list evaluations reveal significant difficulties, with dangers increasing for butterfly species and crucial native bee varieties.”
The factors of the rapid recent declines are the ongoing damage or destruction of living environments caused by farming intensification and land abandonment, draining of wetlands, overgrazing by livestock, and the utilization 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 warming is also demonstrated to be a primary risk: Fifty-two percent of all threatened butterfly types in Europe are threatened by the climate change crisis – roughly twofold the amount as a previous decade.
Up to nine out of ten of flowering plants in Europe depend on animal pollination, as stated by the lead coordinator of the wild bee assessment. “Unfortunately, native bee colonies are in severe drop and cannot be easily replaced by managed bee colonies,” he said. “If wild bees die out, many wild plants might be in danger as well – of which meadows rich in flowers and beautiful orchid species are just a couple of instances.”
Fifteen types of bumblebees, which perform a vital function in fertilizing legumes like peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and 14 types of cellophane bee types, known for fertilizing trees such as willow trees and red maples, are now categorized as at-risk. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee type exclusive to the mainland and the single type of this genus in Europe, is now assessed as severely threatened – the research category nearest to dying out in natural habitats.
Butterfly species that are only found on mountain tops are especially at risk to global heating as they must ascend higher as their habitats become more heated but in the end exhaust available space. In southern Spain, the Nevada grayling butterfly and the Andalusian anomalous blue are among more than 40% of European endemics (exclusive to Europe) at risk of extinction.
In the Mediterranean area, types such as the critically endangered grayling of Karpathos are endangered by intense dry conditions and fires.
In the meantime, in the Arctic Circle, global warming is leading to the tree line to shift northward by dozens of meters each year, with bushes taking over wetlands and tundra. Warmer conditions also mean Arctic deer can not anymore cross the ice to feed on northern grasslands and keep them open. 8 butterfly varieties are facing extinction in this zone, including the fritillary of Freyja and the ringlet of the Arctic.
“The largest habitat for all these pollinating insects is grassland rich in flowers and that is declining quickly across the European continent because of all these factors,” remarked Martin Warren. “The good news is that so many individuals are aware now and there’s a lot more consciousness. Under the EU nature restoration legislation, all member states have to turn around the drop in pollinating insects by 2030, and they are going to have to initiate measures. There are landowners who are involved. Let’s hope they can receive the encouragements that will assist them on their way.”
As stated by the coordinator, there is “easy opportunities” in terms of action for pollinators which will not decrease food production – and could improve it – such as growers establishing flower-rich margins around their fields.
the EU’s environment commissioner, characterized the protection status of wild bees, butterflies and other pollinators as “severe”.
“Immediate and joint measures is required to address this threat. Together with participating nations, the European Commission has implemented an EU-wide tracking system for pollinating insects based on the European Union nature restoration legislation, which will assist in monitoring our progress. Now, we need to prioritize execution and collaboration with participating nations to protect our pollinating insects,” she said.
The issuance of the assessments on bees and butterflies is subsequent to the first EU-wide study on hoverflies, another crucial pollinator group. Released in 2022, it showed that over one-third of all hoverfly species in European nations were facing extinction.
