The number of wild bee types in European nations facing extinction has increased twofold during the previous ten-year period, and the total of endangered butterfly types has close to doubled.
This critical situation for vital pollinators was disclosed by research studies for the IUCN red list, which found that at least one hundred seventy-two bee varieties out of over 1900 were at risk of extinction in European nations.
The number of butterfly species threatened with extinction in Europe has increased from over thirty-five to over sixty since the previous assessment, performed over a decade past. A single species, the large white of Madeira (Pieris wollastoni) has now been declared extinct.
In addition to their aesthetic appeal and cultural importance, pollinators like bees and butterflies are essential supports for our well-being, our food supplies and our economies – sustaining the produce, vegetables and seeds that feed us,” stated the IUCN director general. “The newest European red list evaluations reveal major obstacles, with dangers growing for butterflies and crucial non-managed bee types.”
The reasons of the swift recent drops are the persistent harm or degradation of habitats caused by agricultural intensification and land abandonment, draining wetlands, livestock overgrazing, and the use of pesticides and fertilisers including neonicotinoids. The breaking up of habitat friendly to pollinators substantially boosts the risk of local extinctions.
Global warming is also revealed to be a significant danger: Fifty-two percent of all at-risk butterfly types in Europe are threatened by the climate crisis – approximately twice as many as a ten years ago.
Nearly 90% of blooming plants in European nations rely on pollination by animals, as per Dr Denis Michez. “Sadly, wild bee colonies are in drastic decline and cannot be easily replaced by domesticated hives,” he said. “If native bees vanish, many native plants might be threatened too – of which flower-rich meadows and attractive orchid varieties are just a couple of instances.”
Fifteen types of bumblebee species, which play a crucial role in pollinating crops such as peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and 14 species of cellophane bees, known for fertilizing trees such as willows and red maples, are now classified as threatened. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee species unique to the mainland and the sole species of this genus group in European nations, is now assessed as critically endangered – the research category closest to dying out in natural habitats.
Butterflies that are only found on high-altitude areas are particularly vulnerable to climate change as they have to climb upward as their habitats become warmer but eventually run out of space. In southern Spain, the grayling of Nevada and the Andalusian anomalous blue are among more than 40% of species endemic to Europe (exclusive to Europe) at risk of extinction.
In the Mediterranean, species such as the highly at-risk grayling of Karpathos are threatened by extreme dry conditions and fires.
In the meantime, in the Far North, climate change is causing the timberline to move north by tens of metres each year, with bushes invading wetlands and tundra. Hotter climates also mean Arctic deer can no more cross the ice sheets to browse northern grasslands and maintain them clear. Eight butterfly species are threatened with extinction in this region, including the fritillary of Freyja and the ringlet of the Arctic.
“The greatest living space for all these pollinators is bloom-filled grassy areas and that is disappearing very fast across the European continent because of all these elements,” said one of the lead coordinators of the butterflies assessment. “The encouraging aspect is that so many people are concerned now and there’s a lot more understanding. Under the EU’s nature restoration regulation, all member countries have to turn around the drop in pollinating insects by the year 2030, and they are going to have to begin taking action. There are property owners who are interested. Let’s hope they can get the motivations that will support them on their way.”
As stated by Warren, there is “readily achievable actions” in terms of measures for pollinators which will not lower crop yields – and may enhance it – such as growers creating flower-rich margins around their fields.
the EU’s environment commissioner, portrayed the protection status of native bees, butterflies and additional pollinators as “severe”.
“Urgent and collective action is required to tackle this danger. In collaboration with member states, the EU Commission has put in place an Europe-wide observation system for pollinating insects based on the EU nature restoration regulation, which will aid in following our development. Now, we need to prioritize application and collaboration with member states to protect our pollinating insects,” she said.
The publication of the assessments on bees and butterflies follows the first Europe-wide evaluation of hoverflies, another vital pollinator group. Released in twenty-twenty-two, it disclosed that over one-third of all hoverfly types in Europe were threatened with extinction.
