The total of non-managed bee species in Europe facing extinction has increased twofold during the previous ten-year period, while the count of endangered butterfly has nearly doubled.
This dire scenario for vital pollinating insects was revealed by research studies for the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) red list, which established that at least over 170 bee types out of over 1900 were facing extinction in European nations.
The total of butterfly species at risk of extinction in European nations has grown from thirty-seven to sixty-five since the earlier research, carried out over a decade past. One species, the Madeiran large white butterfly (Pieris wollastoni) has now been classified as extinct.
Apart from their visual charm and cultural significance, pollinators like bees along with butterflies are lifelines for our well-being, our food chains and our financial structures – maintaining the fruits, veggies and seeds that nourish us,” stated Grethel Aguilar. “The newest European red list evaluations reveal significant difficulties, with threats growing for butterfly species and vital wild bee types.”
The reasons of the quick recent decreases are the persistent harm or degradation of living environments caused by intensive agriculture and land abandonment, draining of wetlands, livestock overgrazing, and the application of fertilisers and pesticides including neonicotinoids. The division of habitat friendly to pollinators greatly increases the risk of local extinctions.
Global warming is also demonstrated to be a significant danger: 52% of all threatened butterfly types in the European continent are imperilled by the climate crisis – roughly twice as many as a ten years ago.
As many as 90% of plants that flower in the European continent rely on insect pollination, as stated by the wild bee assessment’s lead coordinator. “Regrettably, non-managed bee colonies are in severe drop and cannot readily be substituted by domesticated hives,” he said. “If native bees vanish, many non-cultivated plants might be threatened too – of which meadows rich in flowers and beautiful orchid species are just a handful of illustrations.”
15 varieties of bumblebee species, which play a crucial role in fertilizing crops such as peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and 14 types of cellophane bees, known for pollinating trees such as willow trees and red maples, are now listed as threatened. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee found only in the continent and the single type of this genus group in Europe, is now assessed as critically at risk – the research category nearest to disappearance in the wild.
Butterfly species that are solely present on mountain peaks are highly susceptible to climate change as they have to climb upward as their living spaces become warmer but eventually exhaust available space. In the southern part of Spain, the Nevada grayling and the Andalusian anomalous blue are among more than 40% of European endemics (exclusive to Europe) threatened with extinction.
In the Mediterranean area, species such as the highly at-risk Karpathos grayling butterfly are threatened by severe wildfires and drought.
Meanwhile, in the Arctic region, global heating is resulting in the forest boundary to shift northward by dozens of meters each year, with bushes invading bog and tundra. Higher temperatures also mean caribou can no more cross the ice to browse Arctic meadows and keep them open. Eight butterfly species are facing extinction in this area, including the fritillary of Freyja and the Arctic ringlet.
“The biggest environment for all these pollinating insects is grassland rich in flowers and that is vanishing rapidly across the European continent because of all these reasons,” remarked a lead coordinator for the butterfly assessment. “The good news is that so many individuals are concerned now and there’s a lot more awareness. Under the European Union nature restoration law, all member states have to reverse the decrease in pollinating species by 2030, and they are going to have to initiate measures. There are landowners who are involved. Let’s hope they can obtain the encouragements that will support them on their way.”
As per Warren, there is “low-hanging fruit” in terms of action for pollinators which will not lower food production – and might boost it – such as farmers creating margins rich in flowers around their cultivated areas.
the EU’s environment commissioner, characterized the preservation condition of non-managed bees, butterfly species and other pollinating insects as “severe”.
“Urgent and collective action is required to tackle this threat. Together with member countries, the EU Commission has implemented an Europe-wide observation system for pollinating species based on the European Union nature restoration legislation, which will aid in following our progress. Now, we need to focus on application and partnership with participating nations to preserve our pollinating species,” she said.
The release of the bee and butterfly assessments comes after the pioneering Europe-wide evaluation of hoverflies, an additional essential group of pollinators. Issued in 2022, it disclosed that thirty-seven percent of all hoverfly types in Europe were facing extinction.
