The number of wild bee species in Europe experiencing dying out has increased twofold over the past decade, whereas the number of endangered butterfly types has almost doubled.
This pressing issue for essential pollinating insects was unveiled by scientific studies for the red list of threatened species, which found that at least 172 bee species out of over 1900 were at risk of extinction in the European continent.
The count of butterfly species threatened with extinction in Europe has risen from 37 to sixty-five since the earlier research, performed 14 years ago. One type, the Madeiran large white (Pieris wollastoni) has now been declared extinct.
In addition to their aesthetic appeal and cultural value, pollinating insects like bees and butterfly species are lifelines for our well-being, our food systems and our economic systems – maintaining the produce, vegetables and seeds that nourish us,” said the IUCN director general. “The most recent European red list evaluations reveal serious challenges, with threats growing for butterflies and vital native bee types.”
The factors of the quick recent decreases are the continuing damage or destruction of habitats caused by agricultural intensification and deserted farmland, wetland drainage, livestock overgrazing, and the use of fertilisers and pesticides including neonicotinoid chemicals. The breaking up of pollinator-friendly habitat significantly raises the risk of disappearances in specific areas.
Global warming is also revealed to be a significant danger: Fifty-two percent of all at-risk butterfly types in European nations are threatened by the climate emergency – roughly double the number as a decade ago.
As many as nine out of ten of blooming plants in the European continent require insect pollination, as stated by the wild bee assessment’s lead coordinator. “Unfortunately, non-managed bee groups are in severe drop and cannot readily be substituted by domesticated hives,” he said. “If non-managed bees disappear, many non-cultivated plants might be at risk too – of which bloom-filled grasslands and attractive orchid varieties are just a couple of instances.”
15 varieties of bumblebees, which perform a vital function in fertilizing peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and 14 types of cellophane bee types, recognized for pollinating trees such as willows along with red maples, are now categorized as at-risk. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee species unique to the continent and the sole species of this genus in European nations, is now assessed as critically at risk – the scientific classification closest to extinction in the wild.
Butterflies that are exclusively located on high-altitude areas are particularly vulnerable to climate change as they have to climb upward as their environments become more heated but in the end have no room left. In the southern part of Spain, the Nevada grayling butterfly and the Andalusian anomalous blue butterfly are among more than 40% of types unique to Europe (solely present in Europe) at risk of extinction.
In the Mediterranean, types such as the severely threatened Karpathos grayling are imperilled by severe drought and wildfires.
At the same time, in the Arctic region, global heating is leading to the tree line to shift northward by many meters each year, with scrub invading bog and tundra. Warmer conditions also mean caribou can not anymore cross the ice sheets to feed on Arctic grasslands and keep them open. 8 butterfly varieties are at risk of extinction in this region, including the fritillary of Freyja and the ringlet of the Arctic.
“The greatest environment for all these pollinating species is grassland rich in flowers and that is declining quickly throughout European nations because of all these elements,” said a lead coordinator for the butterfly assessment. “The encouraging aspect is that so many individuals are aware now and there’s a lot more understanding. Under the European Union nature restoration law, all participating nations have to turn around the decline in pollinating species by 2030, and they are going to have to start doing something. There are landowners who are interested. It is hoped they can get the motivations that will support them on their way.”
According to Warren, there is “readily achievable actions” in terms of action for pollinating species which won’t reduce agricultural output – and might boost it – such as growers developing margins rich in flowers around their cultivated areas.
the EU’s environment commissioner, characterized the conservation status of wild bees, butterflies and other pollinators as “dire”.
“Immediate and joint measures is required to tackle this risk. In collaboration with participating nations, the European Commission has implemented an Europe-wide observation system for pollinators based on the EU nature restoration regulation, which will assist in monitoring our progress. Now, we need to prioritize execution and cooperation with member countries to preserve our pollinating species,” she said.
The publication of the bee and butterfly assessments comes after the initial EU-wide evaluation of hoverflies, an additional crucial pollinating insect category. Issued in 2022, it showed that 37% of all hoverfly species in European nations were threatened with extinction.
