The number of wild bee varieties in Europe experiencing dying out has over doubled in the last ten years, and the count of threatened butterfly has close to doubled.
This pressing issue for crucial pollinating species was disclosed by scientific studies for the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) red list, which found that at least over 170 bee species out of nearly two thousand were at risk of extinction in European nations.
The total of butterfly types at risk of extinction in Europe has risen from over thirty-five to sixty-five since the last study, performed a decade and a half ago. A single species, the large white of Madeira (Pieris wollastoni) has now been confirmed extinct.
“Beyond their beauty and cultural value, pollinators like bees and butterflies are crucial elements for our health, our food chains and our economic systems – supporting the fruits, veggies and seeds that nourish us,” commented Grethel Aguilar. “The newest assessments of the European red list reveal significant difficulties, with risks increasing for butterflies and crucial wild bee species.”
The reasons of the rapid recent declines are the continuing harm or degradation of living environments caused by farming intensification and abandoned land, wetland drainage, excessive grazing by animals, and the utilization of fertilisers and pesticides including neonicotinoid pesticides. The division of pollinator-friendly habitat greatly increases the risk of local extinctions.
Global warming is also demonstrated to be a primary risk: 52% of all threatened butterfly species in European nations are threatened by the climate change crisis – approximately double the number as a decade ago.
As many as 90% of plants that flower in Europe depend on animal pollination, as stated by the lead coordinator of the wild bee assessment. “Regrettably, native bee colonies are in severe drop and are not easily replaceable by managed bee colonies,” he said. “If wild bees disappear, many wild plants might be threatened too – of which meadows rich in flowers and lovely orchid types are just a few examples.”
Fifteen species of bumblebees, which have an essential part in aiding the pollination of peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and 14 types of cellophane bee species, recognized for pollinating trees such as willow trees and red maples, are now listed as threatened. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee type found only in the mainland and the sole species of this biological genus in the European continent, is now classified as severely threatened – the scientific classification closest to dying out in natural habitats.
Butterfly species that are only found on mountain peaks are particularly vulnerable to global heating as they must ascend higher as their habitats become hotter but ultimately run out of space. In the southern part of Spain, the grayling of Nevada and the Andalusian anomalous blue are among more than 40% of types unique to Europe (solely present in Europe) threatened with extinction.
In the Mediterranean, species such as the critically endangered Karpathos grayling butterfly are endangered by extreme drought and wildfires.
At the same time, in the Arctic region, global warming is resulting in the timberline to move north by dozens of meters each year, with scrub encroaching on marsh and tundra. Higher temperatures also mean reindeer can not anymore cross the ice to feed on northern grasslands and maintain them clear. Eight types of butterflies are at risk of extinction in this region, including Freyja’s fritillary butterfly and the Arctic ringlet butterfly.
“The biggest environment for all these pollinating insects is bloom-filled grassy areas and that is declining quickly throughout Europe because of all these elements,” 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 awareness. Under the EU’s nature restoration regulation, all member states have to reverse the decline in pollinators by 2030, and they are going to have to initiate measures. There are land holders who are involved. We hope they can get the incentives that will support them on their way.”
As stated by the coordinator, there is “readily achievable actions” in terms of action for pollinating species which will not decrease agricultural output – and might boost it – such as agricultural producers creating bloom-filled edges around their farmland.
EU commissioner for environment, portrayed the preservation condition of wild bees, butterflies and other pollinators as “critical”.
“Urgent and collective action is necessary to confront this danger. Along with participating nations, the Commission of the European Union has put in place an European Union-wide observation system for pollinating insects based on the EU nature restoration law, which will help to track our progress. Now, we need to concentrate on execution and collaboration with member states to preserve our pollinating species,” she said.
The issuance of the bee and butterfly assessments comes after the first European-wide assessment of hoverflies, a further crucial group of pollinators. Released in 2022, it showed that 37% of all hoverfly species in European nations were threatened with extinction.
