The total of wild bee species in European nations facing disappearance has over doubled over the past decade, while the count of endangered butterfly types has nearly doubled.
This critical situation for vital pollinators was revealed by scientific assessments for the red list of threatened species, which found that at least 172 bee types out of nearly two thousand were threatened with extinction in the European continent.
The number of butterfly types threatened with extinction in the European continent has increased from thirty-seven to sixty-five since the previous assessment, conducted a decade and a half ago. A single species, the large white of Madeira (Pieris wollastoni) has now been confirmed extinct.
“Beyond their aesthetic appeal and cultural significance, pollinating species like bees and butterfly species are crucial elements for our health, our food systems and our financial structures – maintaining the fruits, veggies and seeds that nourish us,” commented the IUCN’s director general. “The newest European red list assessments reveal major obstacles, with threats increasing for butterfly species and crucial non-managed bee types.”
The causes of the quick recent decreases are the persistent harm or degradation of natural habitats caused by agricultural intensification and deserted farmland, draining of wetlands, excessive grazing by animals, and the use of pesticides and fertilisers including neonicotinoids. The breaking up of pollinator-friendly habitat greatly increases the threat of local extinctions.
Climate change is also shown to be a significant danger: Fifty-two percent of all endangered butterfly species in the European continent are threatened by the climate crisis – approximately twice as many as a decade ago.
Up to ninety percent of plants that flower in European nations rely on animal pollination, as stated by the lead coordinator of the wild bee assessment. “Regrettably, wild bee groups are in sharp decrease and cannot readily be substituted by domesticated hives,” he said. “If wild bees die out, many non-cultivated plants might be in danger as well – of which bloom-filled grasslands and lovely orchid types are just a handful of illustrations.”
Fifteen species of bumblebees, which have an essential part in aiding the pollination of crops such as peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and 14 species of cellophane bees, recognized for pollinating trees such as willows and red maples, are now listed as threatened. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee unique to the mainland and the single type of this genus in Europe, is now assessed as critically endangered – the scientific classification most akin to extinction in the wild.
Butterfly species that are exclusively located on mountain peaks are highly susceptible to global warming as they must ascend higher as their living spaces become hotter but ultimately run out of space. In Spain’s southern region, the Nevada grayling and the Andalusian anomalous blue butterfly are among over forty percent of species endemic to Europe (only found in Europe) at risk of extinction.
In the Mediterranean area, varieties such as the severely threatened Karpathos grayling butterfly are endangered by severe dry conditions and fires.
In the meantime, in the Arctic region, climate change is leading to the tree line to shift northward by many meters each year, with scrub invading marsh and tundra. Hotter climates also mean caribou can no longer cross the frozen water to graze Arctic meadows and maintain them clear. Eight types of butterflies are threatened with extinction in this area, including the fritillary of Freyja and the Arctic ringlet butterfly.
“The biggest living space for all these pollinating insects is flower-rich grassland and that is declining quickly throughout European nations because of all these reasons,” said one of the lead coordinators of the butterflies assessment. “The good news is that so many people are concerned now and there’s a lot more consciousness. Under the EU’s nature restoration regulation, all participating nations have to reverse the drop in pollinating insects by 2030, and they are going to have to start doing something. There are land holders who are involved. Let’s hope they can get the incentives that will support them on their way.”
According to Warren, there is “readily achievable actions” in terms of action for pollinating insects which will not lower agricultural output – and may enhance it – such as growers developing bloom-filled edges around their fields.
Jessika Roswall, portrayed the protection status of native bees, butterflies and additional pollinators as “critical”.
“Prompt and unified steps is needed to confront this risk. Along with member states, the Commission of the European Union has implemented an EU-wide tracking system for pollinators based on the EU nature restoration regulation, which will aid in following our advancement. Now, we need to prioritize application and collaboration with member countries to safeguard our pollinating species,” she said.
The release of the bee and butterfly assessments comes after the initial Europe-wide study on hoverflies, an additional essential pollinator group. Released in twenty-twenty-two, it revealed that 37% of all hoverfly species in European nations were facing extinction.
