The number of wild bee species in the European continent confronting disappearance has over doubled over the past decade, whereas the number of endangered butterfly types has almost doubled.
This critical situation for essential pollinating species was disclosed by scientific assessments for the red list of threatened species, which established that at least 172 bee species out of nearly two thousand were at risk of extinction in the European continent.
The number of butterfly species threatened with extinction in European nations has risen from over thirty-five to 65 since the previous assessment, carried out a decade and a half ago. One species, the Madeiran large white butterfly (Pieris wollastoni) has now been declared extinct.
“Beyond their aesthetic appeal and cultural value, pollinating insects like bees and butterfly species are crucial elements for our physical condition, our food systems and our financial structures – supporting the fruits, vegetables and seeds that sustain us,” stated the IUCN director general. “The latest European red list assessments reveal significant difficulties, with dangers increasing for butterfly types and crucial wild bee varieties.”
The causes of the swift recent drops are the persistent destruction or damage of habitats caused by agricultural intensification and deserted farmland, draining wetlands, excessive grazing by animals, and the use of pesticides and fertilisers including neonicotinoids. The fragmentation of pollinator-friendly habitat significantly raises the danger of extinctions at local level.
Global warming is also shown to be a major threat: Over half of all threatened butterfly types in Europe are threatened by the climate emergency – approximately double the number as a ten years ago.
As many as nine out of ten of flowering plants in Europe require pollination by animals, as per the wild bee assessment’s lead coordinator. “Regrettably, wild bee colonies are in sharp decrease and are not easily replaceable by managed colonies,” he said. “If native bees vanish, many native plants might be in danger as well – of which bloom-filled grasslands and beautiful orchid species are just a few examples.”
Fifteen types of bumblebees, which perform a vital function in fertilizing crops such as peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and 14 species of cellophane bee species, known for pollinating trees such as willows and red maples, are now classified as threatened. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee species found only in the continent and the single type of this biological genus in the European continent, is now classified as critically at risk – the scientific classification nearest to extinction in the wild.
Butterfly types that are only found on mountain peaks are especially at risk to global warming as they need to move uphill as their living spaces become hotter but ultimately exhaust available space. In Spain’s southern region, the Nevada grayling and the anomalous blue of Andalusia are among above 40 percent of species endemic to Europe (exclusive to Europe) at risk of extinction.
In the Mediterranean area, species such as the highly at-risk grayling of Karpathos are imperilled by intense drought and wildfires.
At the same time, in the Arctic Circle, global heating is causing the tree line to move north by dozens of meters each year, with underbrush taking over wetlands and tundra. Hotter climates also mean Arctic deer can no longer cross the frozen water to feed on Arctic grasslands and keep them open. Eight butterfly species are at risk of extinction in this region, including Freyja’s fritillary butterfly and the ringlet of the Arctic.
“The greatest environment for all these pollinating insects is flower-rich grassland and that is vanishing rapidly in Europe because of all these elements,” said a lead coordinator for the butterfly assessment. “The good news is that so many citizens are aware now and there’s a lot more understanding. Under the EU nature restoration legislation, all member countries have to reverse the decrease in pollinating insects by twenty-thirty, and they are going to have to initiate measures. There are landowners who are engaged. It is hoped they can obtain the encouragements that will assist them on their way.”
As stated by Warren, there is “readily achievable actions” in terms of measures for pollinators which won’t reduce crop yields – and could improve it – such as growers creating margins rich in flowers around their cultivated areas.
EU commissioner for environment, characterized the protection status of native bees, butterflies and additional pollinators as “severe”.
“Prompt and unified steps is necessary to address this danger. In collaboration with participating nations, the EU Commission has put in place an Europe-wide monitoring system for pollinating species based on the European Union nature restoration legislation, which will aid in following our advancement. Now, we need to concentrate on execution and partnership with member states to safeguard our pollinators,” she said.
The issuance of the bee and butterfly assessments is subsequent to the initial EU-wide evaluation of hoverflies, another vital pollinating insect category. Published in 2022, it showed that 37% of all hoverfly types in European nations were facing extinction.
