The count of wild bee species in the European continent facing extinction has increased twofold in the last ten years, while the number of threatened butterfly species has close to doubled.
This pressing issue for vital pollinating species was unveiled by scientific assessments for the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) red list, which established that at least one hundred seventy-two bee varieties out of over 1900 were facing extinction in the European continent.
The count of butterflies at risk of extinction in the European continent has risen from thirty-seven to over sixty since the last study, performed a decade and a half ago. A single species, the large white of Madeira (Pieris wollastoni) has now been classified as extinct.
“Beyond their aesthetic appeal and cultural importance, pollinators like bees and butterflies are essential supports for our health, our food chains and our financial structures – sustaining the fruits, veggies and seeds that feed us,” commented the IUCN’s director general. “The newest assessments of the European red list reveal major obstacles, with threats increasing for butterflies and essential wild bee varieties.”
The factors of the quick recent decreases are the persistent destruction or damage of living environments caused by intensive agriculture and deserted farmland, draining wetlands, excessive grazing by animals, and the use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides including neonicotinoid pesticides. The division of environments suitable for pollinators significantly raises the danger of extinctions at local level.
Global warming is also revealed to be a major threat: Fifty-two percent of all threatened butterfly types in European nations are imperilled by the climate emergency – about twice as many as a ten years ago.
Up to 90% of plants that flower in European nations depend on pollination by animals, as per the wild bee assessment’s lead coordinator. “Unfortunately, non-managed bee populations are in sharp decrease and cannot readily be substituted by domesticated hives,” he said. “If wild bees vanish, many non-cultivated plants might be at risk too – of which meadows rich in flowers and lovely orchid types are just a couple of instances.”
15 varieties of bumblebee species, which play a crucial role in pollinating peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and 14 species of cellophane bee types, known for fertilizing trees such as willow trees and red maples, are now classified as threatened. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee unique to the continent and the sole species of this genus group in the European continent, is now assessed as critically endangered – the research category closest to dying out in natural habitats.
Butterflies that are only found on high-altitude areas are particularly vulnerable to climate change as they need to move uphill as their environments become hotter but ultimately exhaust available space. In Spain’s southern region, the Nevada grayling butterfly and the anomalous blue of Andalusia are among more than 40% of European endemics (solely present in Europe) threatened with extinction.
In the Mediterranean area, varieties such as the highly at-risk Karpathos grayling are endangered by intense wildfires and drought.
At the same time, in the Arctic region, global heating is leading to the timberline to advance northwards by tens of metres each year, with underbrush taking over marsh and tundra. Higher temperatures also mean reindeer can no longer cross the frozen water to feed on northern grasslands and maintain them clear. 8 butterfly varieties are facing extinction in this area, including Freyja’s fritillary butterfly and the Arctic ringlet.
“The largest habitat for all these pollinators is flower-rich grassland and that is disappearing very fast throughout the European continent because of all these reasons,” stated a lead coordinator for the butterfly assessment. “The positive thing is that so many people care now and there’s a lot more consciousness. Under the EU’s nature restoration regulation, all participating nations have to reverse the decrease in pollinating species by 2030, and they are going to have to initiate measures. There are property owners who are involved. Let’s hope they can receive the encouragements that will support them on their way.”
As per the coordinator, there is “readily achievable actions” in terms of action for pollinating species which will not decrease food production – and may enhance it – such as farmers establishing flower-rich margins around their fields.
EU commissioner for environment, portrayed the preservation condition of wild bees, butterflies and other pollinators as “dire”.
“Prompt and unified steps is needed to address this danger. Along with member countries, the EU Commission has put in place an EU-wide monitoring system for pollinating insects based on the EU nature restoration law, which will aid in following our progress. Now, we need to prioritize execution and partnership with member states to preserve our pollinating insects,” she said.
The release of the bee and butterfly assessments follows the initial EU-wide evaluation of hoverflies, another vital pollinating insect category. Issued in 2022, it disclosed that thirty-seven percent of all hoverfly types in European nations were facing extinction.
