The count of native bee types in the European continent experiencing dying out has increased twofold during the previous ten-year period, while the count of endangered butterfly has almost doubled.
This critical situation for vital pollinating species was unveiled by scientific assessments for the IUCN red list, which found that at least 172 bee types out of nearly two thousand were at risk of extinction in European nations.
The count of butterfly types at risk of extinction in Europe has risen from 37 to 65 since the earlier research, conducted over a decade past. A single species, the large white of Madeira (Pieris wollastoni) has now been declared extinct.
In addition to their visual charm and cultural importance, pollinating species like bees and butterfly species are crucial elements for our health, our food supplies and our economic systems – maintaining the produce, vegetables and seeds that feed us,” stated the IUCN’s director general. “The most recent European red list evaluations reveal significant difficulties, with threats increasing for butterfly species and vital non-managed bee species.”
The factors of the rapid recent declines are the persistent destruction or damage of habitats caused by intensive agriculture and land abandonment, draining wetlands, livestock overgrazing, and the application of fertilisers and pesticides including neonicotinoid chemicals. The fragmentation of pollinator-friendly habitat significantly raises the threat of extinctions at local level.
Global warming is also revealed to be a major threat: Fifty-two percent of all threatened butterfly species in the European continent are imperilled by the climate emergency – roughly double the number as a ten years ago.
Nearly 90% of plants that flower in European nations require pollination by animals, as per Dr Denis Michez. “Regrettably, non-managed bee groups are in severe drop and cannot be easily replaced by managed colonies,” he said. “If non-managed bees die out, many wild plants might be threatened too – of which flower-rich meadows and lovely orchid types are just a handful of illustrations.”
15 varieties of bumblebee species, which play a crucial role in pollinating crops such as peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and 14 types of cellophane bee species, recognized for fertilizing trees such as willows along with red maples, are now classified as threatened. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee found only in the mainland and the sole species of this biological genus in Europe, is now assessed as severely threatened – the scientific category most akin to extinction in the wild.
Butterfly types that are only found on mountain tops are especially at risk to climate change as they have to climb upward as their environments become more heated but ultimately run out of space. In southern Spain, the Nevada grayling and the anomalous blue of Andalusia are among over forty percent of species endemic to Europe (exclusive to Europe) threatened with extinction.
In the Mediterranean, types such as the critically endangered Karpathos grayling butterfly are endangered by extreme dry conditions and fires.
Meanwhile, in the Far North, global warming is resulting in the timberline to move north by many meters each year, with scrub taking over wetlands and tundra. Hotter climates also mean caribou can not anymore cross the ice sheets to graze Arctic grasslands and prevent them from overgrowing. Eight butterfly species are facing extinction in this area, including Freyja’s fritillary butterfly and the Arctic ringlet.
“The greatest environment for all these pollinators is flower-rich grassland and that is disappearing very fast throughout European nations because of all these factors,” remarked Martin Warren. “The positive thing 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 turn around the drop in pollinating insects by the year 2030, and they are going to have to start doing something. There are property owners who are involved. It is hoped they can obtain the incentives that will support them on their way.”
According to Warren, there is “readily achievable actions” in terms of steps for pollinating insects which won’t reduce 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 non-managed bees, butterfly species and other pollinating insects as “critical”.
“Urgent and collective action is required to confront this danger. Together with member countries, the EU Commission has established an European Union-wide observation system for pollinating insects based on the EU nature restoration law, which will help to track our development. Now, we need to concentrate on execution and collaboration with participating nations to protect our pollinating species,” she said.
The publication of the bee and butterfly assessments comes after the first Europe-wide evaluation of hoverflies, a further crucial pollinator group. Issued in 2022, it showed that 37% of all hoverfly species in Europe were at risk of extinction.
