The count of wild bee types in European nations confronting dying out has increased twofold over the past decade, and the total of threatened butterfly has nearly doubled.
This critical situation for essential pollinating species was unveiled by scientific studies for the red list of threatened species, which found that at least 172 bee types out of over 1900 were threatened with extinction in European nations.
The count of butterfly species at risk of extinction in European nations has grown from over thirty-five to sixty-five since the previous assessment, carried out a decade and a half ago. One type, the Madeiran large white (Pieris wollastoni) has now been declared extinct.
Apart from their beauty and cultural significance, pollinators like bees along with butterflies are crucial elements for our physical condition, our food systems and our financial structures – sustaining the fruits, veggies and seeds that nourish us,” commented the IUCN director general. “The newest assessments of the European red list reveal major obstacles, with dangers increasing for butterfly types and crucial wild bee varieties.”
The causes of the quick recent decreases are the continuing harm or degradation of natural habitats caused by agricultural intensification and land abandonment, draining wetlands, livestock overgrazing, and the utilization of chemical fertilisers and pesticides including neonicotinoid pesticides. The fragmentation of pollinator-friendly habitat greatly increases the risk of local extinctions.
Climate change is also demonstrated to be a major threat: 52% of all endangered butterfly types in Europe are imperilled by the climate crisis – approximately twice as many as a ten years ago.
Nearly ninety percent of blooming plants in the European continent require insect pollination, as per the wild bee assessment’s lead coordinator. “Sadly, native bee colonies are in sharp decrease and cannot be easily replaced by domesticated hives,” he said. “If native bees disappear, many non-cultivated plants might be at risk too – of which bloom-filled grasslands and beautiful orchid species are just a couple of instances.”
Fifteen species of bumblebees, which play a crucial role in fertilizing peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and fourteen varieties of cellophane bee types, recognized for pollinating trees such as willows and red maples, are now listed as threatened. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee species found only in the European continent and the sole species of this genus in Europe, is now classified as critically at risk – the scientific category nearest to dying out in natural habitats.
Butterfly types that are only found on mountain peaks are particularly vulnerable to global warming as they must ascend higher as their habitats become warmer but eventually exhaust available space. In southern Spain, the grayling of Nevada and the Andalusian anomalous blue butterfly are among above 40 percent of species endemic to Europe (only found in Europe) facing extinction.
In the Mediterranean region, varieties such as the critically endangered grayling of Karpathos are endangered by intense dry conditions and fires.
Meanwhile, in the Arctic region, global warming is resulting in the timberline to advance northwards by tens of metres each year, with scrub encroaching on wetlands and tundra. Higher temperatures also mean caribou can no longer cross the ice to feed on northern grasslands and maintain them clear. Eight types of butterflies are facing extinction in this region, including Freyja’s fritillary and the Arctic ringlet butterfly.
“The largest environment for all these pollinating species is bloom-filled grassy areas and that is declining quickly throughout European nations because of all these reasons,” remarked Martin Warren. “The good news is that so many individuals are concerned now and there’s a lot more understanding. Under the EU’s nature restoration regulation, all participating nations have to reverse the decrease in pollinating species by 2030, and they are going to have to begin taking action. There are landowners who are involved. Let’s hope they can get the encouragements that will assist them on their way.”
As stated by Warren, there is “readily achievable actions” in terms of measures for pollinators which won’t reduce crop yields – and could improve it – such as farmers developing flower-rich margins around their farmland.
Jessika Roswall, characterized the preservation condition of native bees, butterflies and additional pollinators as “dire”.
“Prompt and unified steps is required to tackle this risk. Along with participating nations, the Commission of the European Union has established an Europe-wide monitoring system for pollinating species based on the EU nature restoration regulation, which will assist in monitoring our progress. Now, we need to concentrate on implementation and cooperation with member states to safeguard our pollinators,” she said.
The publication of the bee and butterfly assessments comes after the first EU-wide study on hoverflies, another vital pollinator group. Issued in 2022, it showed that over one-third of all hoverfly varieties in the European continent were at risk of extinction.
