The number of wild bee species in the European continent confronting extinction has more than doubled over the past decade, and the number of threatened butterfly species has almost doubled.
This dire scenario for vital pollinating species was unveiled by research studies for the red list of threatened species, which established that at least 172 bee species out of nearly two thousand were threatened with extinction in European nations.
The total of butterfly species facing extinction in the European continent has increased from thirty-seven to 65 since the previous assessment, conducted 14 years ago. One species, the large white of Madeira (Pieris wollastoni) has now been declared extinct.
“Beyond their beauty and cultural value, pollinating insects like bees along with butterflies are essential supports for our physical condition, our food chains and our economies – supporting the produce, vegetables and seeds that sustain us,” stated the IUCN’s director general. “The latest European red list assessments reveal major obstacles, with risks mounting for butterflies and essential non-managed bee species.”
The factors of the quick recent decreases are the ongoing destruction or damage of natural habitats caused by farming intensification and land abandonment, wetland drainage, livestock overgrazing, and the application of fertilisers and pesticides including neonicotinoid chemicals. The division of pollinator-friendly habitat substantially boosts the risk of extinctions at local level.
Climate change is also revealed to be a primary risk: Fifty-two percent of all at-risk butterfly types in European nations are endangered by the climate emergency – approximately double the number as a previous decade.
Nearly ninety percent of blooming plants in European nations rely on pollination by animals, as stated by the lead coordinator of the wild bee assessment. “Sadly, wild bee colonies are in sharp decrease and cannot readily be substituted by managed bee colonies,” he said. “If native bees vanish, many wild plants might be in danger as well – of which flower-rich meadows and lovely orchid types are just a handful of illustrations.”
Fifteen species of bumblebees, which perform a vital function in aiding the pollination of peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and 14 types of cellophane bee types, known for fertilizing trees such as willow trees and red maples, are now categorized as at-risk. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee exclusive to the European continent and the sole species of this biological genus in Europe, is now assessed as critically endangered – the scientific classification most akin to extinction in the wild.
Butterfly types that are solely present on high-altitude areas are highly susceptible to climate change as they must ascend higher as their habitats become warmer but ultimately exhaust available space. In Spain’s southern region, the Nevada grayling butterfly and the Andalusian anomalous blue butterfly are among more than 40% of types unique to Europe (exclusive to Europe) threatened with extinction.
In the Mediterranean area, varieties such as the critically endangered Karpathos grayling butterfly are imperilled by intense dry conditions and fires.
Meanwhile, in the Far North, global warming is resulting in the timberline to shift northward by tens of metres each year, with scrub encroaching on marsh and tundra. Hotter climates also mean caribou can not anymore cross the ice sheets to feed on Arctic grasslands and maintain them clear. 8 butterfly varieties are facing extinction in this zone, including Freyja’s fritillary and the Arctic ringlet.
“The greatest habitat for all these pollinating species is flower-rich grassland and that is disappearing very fast across European nations because of all these reasons,” said Martin Warren. “The positive thing is that so many people are aware now and there’s a lot more consciousness. Under the EU nature restoration legislation, all participating nations have to halt the decrease in pollinators by twenty-thirty, and they are going to have to begin taking action. There are property owners who are interested. Let’s hope they can obtain the motivations that will assist them on their way.”
As per Martin Warren, there is “readily achievable actions” in terms of measures for pollinating insects which will not lower crop yields – and could improve it – such as growers establishing bloom-filled edges around their farmland.
the EU’s environment commissioner, described the protection status of native bees, butterflies and additional pollinators as “severe”.
“Prompt and unified steps is necessary to confront this threat. Along with member countries, the Commission of the European Union has implemented an European Union-wide observation system for pollinators based on the EU nature restoration law, which will help to track our development. Now, we need to focus on implementation and partnership with member countries to preserve our pollinating insects,” she said.
The publication of the bee and butterfly assessments follows the first European-wide study on hoverflies, another vital pollinating insect category. Issued in 2022, it revealed that over one-third of all hoverfly species in Europe were threatened with extinction.
