The count of wild bee varieties in European nations experiencing extinction has over doubled in the last ten years, whereas the count of threatened butterfly has close to doubled.
This pressing issue for crucial pollinators was revealed by scientific assessments for the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) red list, which found that at least one hundred seventy-two bee types out of over 1900 were facing extinction in Europe.
The number of butterfly types threatened with extinction in the European continent has grown from thirty-seven to 65 since the last study, conducted a decade and a half ago. One type, the Madeiran large white (Pieris wollastoni) has now been declared extinct.
In addition to their beauty and cultural importance, pollinating insects like bees and butterfly species are crucial elements for our physical condition, our food systems and our economic systems – sustaining the fruits, vegetables and seeds that sustain us,” stated the IUCN director general. “The latest assessments of the European red list reveal significant difficulties, with risks growing for butterfly types and crucial wild bee types.”
The reasons of the rapid recent declines are the persistent destruction or damage of natural habitats caused by intensive agriculture and land abandonment, draining of wetlands, livestock overgrazing, and the application of pesticides and fertilisers including neonicotinoids. The breaking up of pollinator-friendly habitat significantly raises the risk of disappearances in specific areas.
Climate change is also shown to be a major threat: Fifty-two percent of all at-risk butterfly species in Europe are endangered by the climate emergency – roughly twice as many as a decade ago.
Up to ninety percent of flowering plants in European nations require insect pollination, according to the lead coordinator of the wild bee assessment. “Regrettably, wild bee groups are in severe drop and cannot readily be substituted by managed colonies,” he said. “If wild bees disappear, many native plants might be in danger as well – of which flower-rich meadows and lovely orchid types are just a few examples.”
Fifteen types of bumblebees, which perform a vital function in aiding the pollination of crops such as peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and fourteen varieties of cellophane bees, famous for aiding tree pollination such as willows and red maples, are now classified as threatened. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee species unique to the continent and the sole species of this genus in the European continent, is now classified as critically at risk – the scientific category nearest to disappearance in the wild.
Butterflies that are solely present on high-altitude areas are especially at risk to global warming as they have to climb upward as their living spaces become hotter but ultimately exhaust available space. In southern Spain, the Nevada grayling and the anomalous blue of Andalusia are among above 40 percent of European endemics (solely present in Europe) threatened with extinction.
In the Mediterranean, varieties such as the critically endangered Karpathos grayling butterfly are threatened by intense dry conditions and fires.
In the meantime, in the Far North, global warming is resulting in the forest boundary to advance northwards by many meters each year, with scrub encroaching on marsh and tundra. Higher temperatures also mean reindeer can no more cross the ice sheets to browse Arctic grasslands and keep them open. Eight types of butterflies are threatened with extinction in this area, including Freyja’s fritillary butterfly and the Arctic ringlet butterfly.
“The largest environment for all these pollinators is grassland rich in flowers and that is disappearing very fast in European nations because of all these elements,” stated Martin Warren. “The good news is that so many people are aware now and there’s a lot more awareness. Under the EU nature restoration legislation, all member states have to reverse the decrease in pollinating insects by the year 2030, and they are going to have to start doing something. There are land holders who are engaged. Let’s hope they can obtain the incentives that will help them on their way.”
As stated by the coordinator, there is “readily achievable actions” in terms of action for pollinating species which will not decrease agricultural output – and may enhance it – such as agricultural producers creating flower-rich margins around their fields.
the EU’s environment commissioner, described the conservation status of non-managed bees, butterfly species and other pollinating insects as “severe”.
“Prompt and unified steps is necessary to tackle this danger. In collaboration with member countries, the European Commission has established an European Union-wide observation system for pollinators based on the European Union nature restoration legislation, which will assist in monitoring our advancement. Now, we need to prioritize execution and partnership with member countries to protect our pollinating species,” she said.
The publication of the assessments on bees and butterflies is subsequent to the first Europe-wide evaluation of hoverflies, an additional vital pollinating insect category. Published in 2022, it showed that 37% of all hoverfly varieties in Europe were at risk of extinction.
