The count of wild bee varieties in the European continent facing dying out has more than doubled during the previous ten-year period, while the total of at-risk butterfly types has close to doubled.
This critical situation for vital pollinators was revealed by research studies for the IUCN red list, which found that at least 172 bee species out of over 1900 were threatened with extinction in European nations.
The total of butterfly species at risk of extinction in the European continent has grown from thirty-seven to 65 since the previous assessment, performed a decade and a half ago. A single species, the Madeiran large white (Pieris wollastoni) has now been confirmed extinct.
“Beyond their visual charm and cultural value, pollinating insects like bees along with butterflies are crucial elements for our health, our food systems and our financial structures – sustaining the fruits, vegetables and seeds that nourish us,” said Grethel Aguilar. “The latest European red list evaluations reveal major obstacles, with risks increasing for butterflies and essential native bee types.”
The causes of the swift recent drops are the ongoing destruction or damage of living environments caused by intensive agriculture and abandoned land, draining wetlands, livestock overgrazing, and the application of pesticides and fertilisers including neonicotinoid chemicals. The division of pollinator-friendly habitat substantially boosts the threat of extinctions at local level.
Global warming is also shown to be a primary risk: 52% of all endangered butterflies in Europe are endangered by the climate crisis – roughly twice as many as a decade ago.
Nearly nine out of ten of blooming plants in the European continent depend on pollination by animals, according to the wild bee assessment’s lead coordinator. “Regrettably, native bee colonies are in severe drop and cannot be easily replaced by managed colonies,” he said. “If native bees vanish, many wild plants might be threatened too – of which bloom-filled grasslands and lovely orchid types are just a handful of illustrations.”
15 varieties of bumblebees, which play a crucial role in fertilizing legumes like peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and fourteen varieties of cellophane bees, recognized for pollinating trees such as willows along with red maples, are now classified as threatened. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee unique to the continent and the sole species of this genus in European nations, is now classified as critically endangered – the scientific category closest to extinction in the wild.
Butterfly types that are solely present on mountain tops are particularly vulnerable to climate change as they must ascend higher as their living spaces become hotter but ultimately exhaust available space. In southern 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 region, varieties such as the severely threatened grayling of Karpathos are endangered by extreme wildfires and drought.
Meanwhile, in the Arctic Circle, climate change is leading to the forest boundary to advance northwards by dozens of meters each year, with underbrush taking over wetlands and tundra. Warmer conditions also mean Arctic deer can no longer cross the ice sheets to feed on Arctic meadows and maintain them clear. Eight butterfly species are threatened with extinction in this region, including the fritillary of Freyja and the Arctic ringlet.
“The biggest environment for all these pollinating species is grassland rich in flowers and that is disappearing very fast across Europe because of all these reasons,” stated Martin Warren. “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 halt the decline in pollinating species by 2030, and they are going to have to begin taking action. There are landowners who are interested. Let’s hope they can get the encouragements that will support them on their way.”
As per Warren, there is “easy opportunities” in terms of steps for pollinators which will not lower crop yields – and could improve it – such as farmers developing flower-rich margins around their cultivated areas.
the EU’s environment commissioner, characterized the protection status of wild bees, butterflies and other pollinators as “critical”.
“Prompt and unified steps is needed to confront this danger. In collaboration with member countries, the European Commission has established an EU-wide observation system for pollinating insects based on the EU nature restoration regulation, which will assist in monitoring our development. Now, we need to focus on implementation and cooperation with member countries to safeguard our pollinators,” she said.
The issuance of the evaluations of bees along with butterflies follows the initial Europe-wide assessment of hoverflies, an additional crucial pollinator group. Issued in twenty-twenty-two, it revealed that thirty-seven percent of all hoverfly species in the European continent were facing extinction.
