The total of non-managed bee species in Europe experiencing disappearance has increased twofold over the past decade, and the number of at-risk butterfly species has close to doubled.
This critical situation for vital pollinating species was unveiled by research studies for the red list of threatened species, which found that at least one hundred seventy-two bee types out of nearly two thousand were at risk of extinction in the European continent.
The total of butterflies facing extinction in Europe has risen from over thirty-five to 65 since the earlier research, carried out over a decade past. One type, the Madeiran large white (Pieris wollastoni) has now been confirmed extinct.
“Beyond their aesthetic appeal and cultural value, pollinators like bees and butterflies are essential supports for our health, our food systems and our economies – supporting the fruits, vegetables and seeds that nourish us,” commented the IUCN director general. “The newest assessments of the European red list reveal significant difficulties, with threats growing for butterflies and crucial wild bee species.”
The factors of the quick recent decreases are the ongoing damage or destruction of natural habitats caused by farming intensification and land abandonment, draining wetlands, excessive grazing by animals, and the use of pesticides and fertilisers including neonicotinoid chemicals. The division of habitat friendly to pollinators significantly raises the danger of disappearances in specific areas.
Global warming is also revealed to be a primary risk: Over half of all at-risk butterfly species in European nations are threatened by the climate crisis – about twice as many as a previous decade.
As many as 90% of plants that flower in Europe depend on insect pollination, according to the wild bee assessment’s lead coordinator. “Regrettably, native bee populations are in sharp decrease and cannot be easily replaced by domesticated hives,” he said. “If native bees vanish, many non-cultivated plants might be at risk too – of which bloom-filled grasslands and attractive orchid varieties are just a couple of instances.”
15 varieties of bumblebee types, which play a crucial role in pollinating peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and fourteen varieties of cellophane bees, known for pollinating trees such as willows along with red maples, are now categorized as at-risk. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee unique to the European continent and the sole species of this biological genus in European nations, is now evaluated as critically endangered – the scientific category most akin to dying out in natural habitats.
Butterflies that are only found on mountain tops are particularly vulnerable to global warming as they must ascend higher as their living spaces become warmer but eventually run out of space. In Spain’s southern region, the Nevada grayling and the Andalusian anomalous blue butterfly are among more than 40% of types unique to Europe (only found in Europe) at risk of extinction.
In the Mediterranean area, species such as the critically endangered grayling of Karpathos are threatened by extreme dry conditions and fires.
At the same time, in the Arctic region, global warming is causing the timberline to shift northward by many meters each year, with scrub invading bog and tundra. Warmer conditions also mean Arctic deer can not anymore cross the ice sheets to graze Arctic meadows and keep them open. Eight types of butterflies are threatened with extinction in this zone, including Freyja’s fritillary butterfly and the ringlet of the Arctic.
“The largest environment for all these pollinating species is flower-rich grassland and that is declining quickly throughout the European continent because of all these reasons,” said a lead coordinator for the butterfly assessment. “The encouraging aspect is that so many people care now and there’s a lot more consciousness. Under the European Union nature restoration law, all participating nations have to halt the decrease in pollinators 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 support them on their way.”
According to the coordinator, there is “readily achievable actions” in terms of action for pollinating species which won’t reduce food production – and may enhance it – such as farmers developing margins rich in flowers around their farmland.
the EU’s environment commissioner, portrayed the conservation status of wild bees, butterflies and other pollinators as “dire”.
“Prompt and unified steps is required to address this danger. In collaboration with member countries, the EU Commission has established an European Union-wide monitoring system for pollinating species based on the EU nature restoration law, which will aid in following our advancement. Now, we need to prioritize implementation and cooperation with member states to protect our pollinating species,” she said.
The release of the bee and butterfly assessments follows the pioneering EU-wide study on hoverflies, a further essential pollinator group. Published in twenty-twenty-two, it revealed that over one-third of all hoverfly varieties in Europe were at risk of extinction.
