The count of native bee varieties in Europe experiencing extinction has more than doubled over the past decade, while the number of threatened butterfly has almost doubled.
This critical situation for crucial pollinating insects was revealed by scientific assessments for the red list of threatened species, which established that at least 172 bee varieties out of nearly two thousand were facing extinction in Europe.
The total of butterfly species facing extinction in European nations has increased from over thirty-five to 65 since the earlier research, performed over a decade past. One species, the Madeiran large white (Pieris wollastoni) has now been confirmed extinct.
Apart from their visual charm and cultural importance, pollinating species like bees and butterflies are lifelines for our health, our food chains and our financial structures – sustaining the fruits, vegetables and seeds that feed us,” stated the IUCN’s director general. “The most recent European red list evaluations reveal major obstacles, with risks mounting for butterflies and vital native bee types.”
The causes of the quick recent decreases are the ongoing harm or degradation of habitats caused by agricultural intensification and land abandonment, draining wetlands, livestock overgrazing, and the application of chemical fertilisers and pesticides including neonicotinoids. The fragmentation of environments suitable for pollinators substantially boosts the risk of extinctions at local level.
Global warming is also demonstrated to be a major threat: Over half of all at-risk butterfly types in the European continent are threatened by the climate emergency – approximately double the number as a ten years ago.
As many as ninety percent of plants that flower in European nations depend on animal pollination, as stated by the wild bee assessment’s lead coordinator. “Regrettably, native bee colonies are in severe drop and are not easily replaceable by domesticated hives,” he said. “If non-managed bees vanish, many wild plants might be at risk too – of which flower-rich meadows and beautiful orchid species are just a handful of illustrations.”
15 varieties of bumblebees, which perform a vital function in pollinating legumes like peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and fourteen varieties of cellophane bee types, recognized for pollinating trees such as willow trees and red maples, are now listed as threatened. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee species exclusive to the European continent and the only species of this genus group in European nations, is now evaluated as critically endangered – the scientific classification nearest to extinction in the wild.
Butterfly types that are exclusively located on high-altitude areas are especially at risk to climate change as they must ascend higher as their environments become hotter but ultimately have no room left. In Spain’s southern region, the grayling of Nevada and the Andalusian anomalous blue are among more than 40% of types unique to Europe (exclusive to Europe) threatened with extinction.
In the Mediterranean region, species such as the critically endangered Karpathos grayling butterfly are endangered by severe drought and wildfires.
In the meantime, in the Arctic Circle, climate change is resulting in the forest boundary to advance northwards by many meters each year, with underbrush encroaching on wetlands and tundra. Higher temperatures also mean caribou can no longer cross the frozen water to browse Arctic meadows and maintain them clear. Eight types of butterflies are at risk of extinction in this region, including Freyja’s fritillary butterfly and the ringlet of the Arctic.
“The biggest living space for all these pollinating species is bloom-filled grassy areas and that is vanishing rapidly across Europe because of all these elements,” said Martin Warren. “The positive thing is that so many citizens care now and there’s a lot more understanding. Under the EU nature restoration legislation, all member states have to reverse the drop in pollinators 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 obtain the motivations that will assist them on their way.”
As per Martin Warren, there is “readily achievable actions” in terms of measures for pollinating insects which will not decrease agricultural output – and might boost it – such as farmers developing 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 “dire”.
“Urgent and collective action is required to confront this danger. Together with member countries, the European Commission has implemented an EU-wide tracking system for pollinating insects based on the EU nature restoration regulation, which will assist in monitoring our advancement. Now, we need to focus on execution and partnership with participating nations to safeguard our pollinating species,” she said.
The release of the evaluations of bees along with butterflies comes after the first EU-wide study on hoverflies, a further vital pollinating insect category. Published in 2022, it showed that over one-third of all hoverfly species in the European continent were threatened with extinction.
