The count of non-managed bee species in the European continent experiencing dying out has more than doubled in the last ten years, and the number of threatened butterfly has almost doubled.
This critical situation for vital pollinators was disclosed by scientific assessments for the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) red list, which established that at least one hundred seventy-two bee types out of over 1900 were facing extinction in Europe.
The number of butterflies facing extinction in European nations has increased from thirty-seven to 65 since the previous assessment, conducted 14 years ago. A single species, the Madeiran large white (Pieris wollastoni) has now been confirmed extinct.
In addition to their aesthetic appeal and cultural value, pollinators like bees along with butterflies are essential supports for our physical condition, our food supplies and our economies – maintaining the fruits, vegetables and seeds that feed us,” stated Grethel Aguilar. “The newest European red list assessments reveal major obstacles, with dangers mounting for butterfly types and crucial wild bee varieties.”
The reasons of the rapid recent declines are the continuing harm or degradation of natural habitats caused by agricultural intensification and abandoned land, draining of wetlands, excessive grazing by animals, and the use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides including neonicotinoid chemicals. The fragmentation of pollinator-friendly habitat greatly increases the risk of local extinctions.
Global warming is also revealed to be a primary risk: Over half of all endangered butterflies in Europe are endangered by the climate emergency – approximately twice as many as a previous decade.
Nearly 90% of plants that flower in European nations depend on animal pollination, as stated by the lead coordinator of the wild bee assessment. “Regrettably, native bee colonies are in drastic decline and cannot be easily replaced by managed colonies,” he said. “If non-managed bees disappear, many non-cultivated plants might be threatened too – of which flower-rich meadows and beautiful orchid species are just a handful of illustrations.”
15 varieties of bumblebee species, which perform a vital function in fertilizing crops such as peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and fourteen varieties of cellophane bees, recognized for aiding tree pollination such as willows and red maples, are now categorized as at-risk. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee unique to the European continent and the only species of this genus group in European nations, is now assessed as severely threatened – the scientific classification most akin to dying out in natural habitats.
Butterfly species that are exclusively located on mountain peaks are particularly vulnerable to global warming as they must ascend higher as their environments become warmer but in the end run out of space. In Spain’s southern region, the grayling of Nevada and the Andalusian anomalous blue butterfly are among over forty percent of species endemic to Europe (exclusive to Europe) threatened with extinction.
In the Mediterranean, varieties such as the severely threatened Karpathos grayling butterfly are imperilled by severe wildfires and drought.
Meanwhile, in the Far North, global heating is leading to the forest boundary to advance northwards by dozens of meters each year, with underbrush encroaching on bog and tundra. Higher temperatures also mean caribou can no more cross the ice sheets to feed on northern grasslands and keep them open. Eight butterfly species are facing extinction in this region, including Freyja’s fritillary butterfly and the ringlet of the Arctic.
“The biggest habitat for all these pollinating insects is flower-rich grassland and that is vanishing rapidly in Europe because of all these reasons,” stated Martin Warren. “The positive thing is that so many people are aware now and there’s a lot more consciousness. Under the European Union nature restoration law, all member countries have to reverse the drop in pollinating species by the year 2030, and they are going to have to begin taking action. There are land holders who are engaged. It is hoped they can receive the motivations that will help them on their way.”
As per Martin Warren, there is “easy opportunities” in terms of action for pollinating species which will not lower crop yields – and might boost it – such as agricultural producers developing flower-rich margins around their cultivated areas.
the EU’s environment commissioner, characterized the preservation condition of native bees, butterflies and additional pollinators as “dire”.
“Prompt and unified steps is needed to tackle this threat. Together with member countries, the European Commission has implemented an European Union-wide monitoring system for pollinators based on the EU nature restoration law, which will help to track our development. Now, we need to concentrate on application and cooperation with participating nations to safeguard our pollinators,” she said.
The publication of the bee and butterfly assessments comes after the initial European-wide study on hoverflies, a further essential pollinating insect category. Released in 2022, it revealed that 37% of all hoverfly varieties in Europe were at risk of extinction.
