The total of wild bee types in the European continent experiencing dying out has increased twofold during the previous ten-year period, while the number of at-risk butterfly species has almost doubled.
This dire scenario for crucial pollinating insects was unveiled by research studies for the IUCN red list, which determined that at least one hundred seventy-two bee species out of 1,928 were facing extinction in Europe.
The total of butterfly species at risk of extinction in the European continent has grown from over thirty-five to over sixty since the previous assessment, conducted 14 years ago. A single species, the large white of Madeira (Pieris wollastoni) has now been classified as extinct.
Apart from their beauty and cultural significance, pollinating species like bees and butterflies are crucial elements for our well-being, our food systems and our economies – sustaining the produce, vegetables and seeds that nourish us,” commented Grethel Aguilar. “The newest European red list evaluations reveal serious challenges, with risks mounting for butterfly species and crucial non-managed bee species.”
The causes of the quick recent decreases are the persistent damage or destruction of habitats caused by intensive agriculture and abandoned land, wetland drainage, overgrazing by livestock, and the use of pesticides and fertilisers including neonicotinoid pesticides. The division of environments suitable for pollinators significantly raises the risk of disappearances in specific areas.
Global heating is also revealed to be a significant danger: 52% of all at-risk butterfly species in the European continent are threatened by the climate crisis – roughly twofold the amount as a previous decade.
Nearly 90% of plants that flower in European nations require pollination by animals, according to Dr Denis Michez. “Regrettably, native bee groups are in severe drop and cannot readily be substituted by domesticated hives,” he said. “If non-managed bees vanish, many non-cultivated plants might be at risk too – of which flower-rich meadows and beautiful orchid species are just a couple of instances.”
Fifteen types of bumblebees, which play a crucial role in aiding the pollination of legumes like peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and fourteen varieties of cellophane bees, known for pollinating trees such as willow trees and red maples, are now categorized as at-risk. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee type found only in the European continent and the single type of this genus group in the European continent, is now evaluated as severely threatened – the research category closest to disappearance in the wild.
Butterfly types that are only found on mountain peaks are particularly vulnerable to global heating as they must ascend higher as their living spaces become hotter but ultimately have no room left. In Spain’s southern region, the Nevada grayling butterfly and the Andalusian anomalous blue are among above 40 percent of types unique to Europe (exclusive to Europe) facing extinction.
In the Mediterranean, varieties such as the highly at-risk Karpathos grayling butterfly are threatened by severe wildfires and drought.
At the same time, in the Far North, global warming is leading to the tree line to move north by dozens of meters each year, with scrub encroaching on wetlands and tundra. Hotter climates also mean caribou can no more cross the frozen water to browse Arctic meadows and keep them open. 8 butterfly varieties are facing extinction in this zone, including Freyja’s fritillary butterfly and the Arctic ringlet butterfly.
“The largest habitat for all these pollinating insects is bloom-filled grassy areas and that is disappearing very fast in Europe because of all these elements,” said one of the lead coordinators of the butterflies assessment. “The good news is that so many people care now and there’s a lot more awareness. Under the European Union nature restoration law, all participating nations have to reverse the decline in pollinating insects by twenty-thirty, and they are going to have to begin taking action. There are landowners who are engaged. We hope they can obtain the encouragements that will assist them on their way.”
According to Martin Warren, there is “readily achievable actions” in terms of steps for pollinators which will not lower food production – and may enhance it – such as agricultural producers developing bloom-filled edges around their cultivated areas.
EU commissioner for environment, portrayed the preservation condition of native bees, butterflies and additional pollinators as “critical”.
“Prompt and unified steps is required to tackle this risk. In collaboration with member states, the European Commission has implemented an Europe-wide observation system for pollinating species based on the EU nature restoration law, which will aid in following our advancement. Now, we need to prioritize implementation and cooperation with member countries to preserve our pollinators,” she said.
The publication of the evaluations of bees along with butterflies follows the pioneering EU-wide evaluation of hoverflies, an additional essential pollinator group. Released in 2022, it disclosed that 37% of all hoverfly species in Europe were threatened with extinction.
