The number of wild bee varieties in European nations experiencing extinction has increased twofold over the past decade, while the number of threatened butterfly types has almost doubled.
This dire scenario for essential pollinating insects was revealed by research studies for the red list of threatened species, which determined that at least one hundred seventy-two bee species out of nearly two thousand were threatened with extinction in Europe.
The number of butterfly types at risk of extinction in the European continent has risen from over thirty-five to 65 since the earlier research, carried out 14 years ago. A single species, the Madeiran large white (Pieris wollastoni) has now been declared extinct.
In addition to their beauty and cultural value, pollinators like bees along with butterflies are lifelines for our health, our food supplies and our economies – supporting the produce, vegetables and seeds that nourish us,” said the IUCN’s director general. “The latest European red list evaluations reveal serious challenges, with dangers increasing for butterfly types and crucial wild bee types.”
The causes of the rapid recent declines are the persistent harm or degradation of living environments caused by agricultural intensification and land abandonment, draining of wetlands, excessive grazing by animals, and the utilization of fertilisers and pesticides including neonicotinoid pesticides. The division of pollinator-friendly habitat significantly raises the risk of local extinctions.
Climate change is also shown to be a primary risk: Over half of all threatened butterfly species in the European continent are threatened by the climate crisis – approximately double the number as a ten years ago.
Nearly nine out of ten of blooming plants in European nations depend on insect pollination, as per Dr Denis Michez. “Regrettably, native bee populations are in severe drop and cannot readily be substituted by managed colonies,” he said. “If native bees disappear, many non-cultivated plants might be at risk too – of which meadows rich in flowers and lovely orchid types are just a few examples.”
Fifteen types of bumblebee species, which perform a vital function in pollinating crops such as peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and 14 types of cellophane bee species, recognized for aiding tree pollination such as willow trees and red maples, are now classified as threatened. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee species exclusive to the continent and the sole species of this genus group in Europe, is now assessed as severely threatened – the research category closest to dying out in natural habitats.
Butterfly species that are exclusively located on high-altitude areas are particularly vulnerable to global warming as they must ascend higher as their habitats become more heated but ultimately run out of space. In southern Spain, the Nevada grayling butterfly and the Andalusian anomalous blue butterfly are among over forty percent of types unique to Europe (exclusive to Europe) facing extinction.
In the Mediterranean region, types such as the critically endangered Karpathos grayling butterfly are threatened by severe dry conditions and fires.
In the meantime, in the Far North, global warming is resulting in the timberline to advance northwards by tens of metres each year, with underbrush invading marsh and tundra. Hotter climates also mean Arctic deer can not anymore cross the frozen water to graze Arctic meadows and prevent them from overgrowing. Eight butterfly species are at risk of extinction in this zone, including Freyja’s fritillary butterfly and the Arctic ringlet butterfly.
“The largest living space for all these pollinating insects is grassland rich in flowers and that is disappearing very fast across European nations because of all these elements,” said one of the lead coordinators of the butterflies assessment. “The encouraging aspect is that so many people are aware now and there’s a lot more understanding. Under the EU’s nature restoration regulation, all member states have to halt the decline in pollinators by 2030, and they are going to have to begin taking action. There are property owners who are involved. We hope they can obtain the motivations that will support them on their way.”
As stated by Warren, there is “easy opportunities” in terms of steps for pollinating insects which will not lower crop yields – and may enhance it – such as growers creating margins rich in flowers around their cultivated areas.
EU commissioner for environment, characterized the preservation condition of non-managed bees, butterfly species and other pollinating insects as “dire”.
“Immediate and joint measures is needed to tackle this danger. Together with member states, the EU Commission has implemented an Europe-wide monitoring system for pollinating insects based on the EU nature restoration regulation, which will assist in monitoring our development. Now, we need to focus on execution and partnership with participating nations to preserve our pollinating insects,” she said.
The release of the evaluations of bees along with butterflies follows the first EU-wide evaluation of hoverflies, an additional essential pollinating insect category. Released in twenty-twenty-two, it showed that over one-third of all hoverfly types in Europe were at risk of extinction.
