The number of wild bee types in European nations confronting extinction has more than doubled over the past decade, whereas the count of threatened butterfly has nearly doubled.
This critical situation for essential pollinating insects was unveiled by scientific studies for the IUCN red list, which established that at least over 170 bee species out of over 1900 were threatened with extinction in Europe.
The count of butterfly species at risk of extinction in Europe has increased from over thirty-five to 65 since the previous assessment, carried out a decade and a half ago. One species, the large white of Madeira (Pieris wollastoni) has now been declared extinct.
In addition to their visual charm and cultural significance, pollinators like bees and butterfly species are crucial elements for our health, our food systems and our economies – maintaining the produce, vegetables and seeds that nourish us,” commented Grethel Aguilar. “The newest European red list evaluations reveal major obstacles, with risks mounting for butterfly species and crucial non-managed bee varieties.”
The factors of the swift recent drops are the persistent harm or degradation of natural habitats caused by farming intensification and abandoned land, wetland drainage, overgrazing by livestock, and the use of fertilisers and pesticides including neonicotinoids. The division of pollinator-friendly habitat significantly raises the danger of local extinctions.
Climate change is also shown to be a significant danger: Over half of all threatened butterflies in Europe are imperilled by the climate change crisis – about twice as many as a decade ago.
As many as nine out of ten of flowering plants in Europe depend on insect pollination, as per the wild bee assessment’s lead coordinator. “Sadly, wild bee populations are in sharp decrease and are not easily replaceable by managed colonies,” he said. “If native 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 species of bumblebee types, which perform a vital function in aiding the pollination of peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and fourteen varieties of cellophane bee species, known for fertilizing trees such as willows and red maples, are now categorized as at-risk. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee species found only in the continent and the sole species of this genus group in the European continent, is now classified as severely threatened – the research category most akin to extinction in the wild.
Butterfly species that are exclusively located on mountain peaks 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 southern Spain, the Nevada grayling and the Andalusian anomalous blue butterfly are among more than 40% of European endemics (exclusive to Europe) threatened with extinction.
In the Mediterranean area, varieties such as the severely threatened Karpathos grayling are threatened by extreme dry conditions and fires.
Meanwhile, in the Arctic Circle, global heating is causing the timberline to move north by dozens of meters each year, with bushes invading wetlands and tundra. Hotter climates also mean caribou can no longer cross the frozen water to graze northern grasslands and keep them open. Eight types of butterflies are threatened with extinction in this region, including Freyja’s fritillary butterfly and the Arctic ringlet butterfly.
“The biggest environment for all these pollinators is flower-rich grassland and that is declining quickly in Europe because of all these elements,” remarked a lead coordinator for the butterfly assessment. “The encouraging aspect is that so many individuals are concerned now and there’s a lot more consciousness. Under the EU’s nature restoration regulation, all participating nations have to halt the decline in pollinating insects by twenty-thirty, and they are going to have to start doing something. There are landowners who are engaged. It is hoped they can get the encouragements that will help them on their way.”
As per Warren, there is “low-hanging fruit” in terms of action for pollinating insects which won’t reduce agricultural output – and could improve it – such as farmers developing bloom-filled edges around their cultivated areas.
EU commissioner for environment, characterized the protection status of native bees, butterflies and additional pollinators as “dire”.
“Immediate and joint measures is needed to confront this risk. Along with member states, the Commission of the European Union has put in place an European Union-wide tracking system for pollinators based on the EU nature restoration law, which will assist in monitoring our progress. Now, we need to concentrate on application and cooperation with member countries to safeguard our pollinators,” she said.
The publication of the assessments on bees and butterflies comes after the first Europe-wide study on hoverflies, another vital pollinating insect category. Issued in 2022, it showed that thirty-seven percent of all hoverfly types in the European continent were facing extinction.
