The total of non-managed bee species in Europe facing dying out has over doubled during the previous ten-year period, whereas the number of endangered butterfly species has close to doubled.
This dire scenario for essential pollinating insects was unveiled by research studies for the red list of threatened species, which determined that at least over 170 bee species out of over 1900 were threatened with extinction in European nations.
The total of butterfly types facing extinction in European nations has grown from 37 to over sixty since the last study, performed a decade and a half ago. One species, the large white of Madeira (Pieris wollastoni) has now been confirmed extinct.
In addition to their aesthetic appeal and cultural significance, pollinating species like bees and butterfly species are lifelines for our well-being, our food systems and our financial structures – maintaining the produce, vegetables and seeds that feed us,” said Grethel Aguilar. “The most recent European red list assessments reveal significant difficulties, with threats growing for butterfly types and vital wild bee types.”
The causes of the rapid recent declines are the continuing harm or degradation of habitats caused by intensive agriculture and deserted farmland, draining of wetlands, livestock overgrazing, and the use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides including neonicotinoid pesticides. The fragmentation of environments suitable for pollinators greatly increases the danger of disappearances in specific areas.
Global warming is also shown to be a primary risk: 52% of all at-risk butterfly types in the European continent are imperilled by the climate change crisis – approximately twofold the amount as a decade ago.
Nearly ninety percent of flowering plants in the European continent rely on pollination by animals, as per the lead coordinator of the wild bee assessment. “Sadly, non-managed bee colonies are in severe drop and cannot be easily replaced by domesticated hives,” he said. “If native bees vanish, many native plants might be threatened too – of which meadows rich in flowers and attractive orchid varieties are just a few examples.”
15 varieties of bumblebee species, which perform a vital function in pollinating peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and 14 types of cellophane bee types, recognized for aiding tree pollination such as willows and red maples, are now categorized as at-risk. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee species exclusive to the continent and the single type of this genus in European nations, is now assessed as critically endangered – the scientific classification closest to extinction in the wild.
Butterflies that are solely present on mountain tops are especially at risk to climate change as they have to climb upward as their environments become warmer but eventually run out of space. In the southern part of Spain, the Nevada grayling butterfly 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 region, species such as the critically endangered Karpathos grayling are endangered by intense wildfires and drought.
At the same time, in the Arctic Circle, climate change is leading to the timberline to move north by dozens of meters each year, with bushes invading wetlands and tundra. Warmer conditions also mean caribou can no longer cross the ice to browse northern grasslands and maintain them clear. 8 butterfly varieties are threatened with extinction in this zone, including the fritillary of Freyja and the ringlet of the Arctic.
“The largest environment for all these pollinating insects is flower-rich grassland and that is vanishing rapidly across Europe because of all these reasons,” stated a lead coordinator for the butterfly assessment. “The positive thing is that so many citizens are aware now and there’s a lot more awareness. 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 land holders who are engaged. Let’s hope they can get the incentives that will support them on their way.”
According to Martin Warren, there is “low-hanging fruit” in terms of steps for pollinators which will not decrease food production – and might boost it – such as growers creating flower-rich margins around their fields.
Jessika Roswall, portrayed the conservation status of wild bees, butterflies and other pollinators as “dire”.
“Immediate and joint measures is needed to address this threat. In collaboration with member countries, the EU Commission has put in place an EU-wide observation system for pollinating insects based on the EU nature restoration law, which will aid in following our progress. Now, we need to focus on execution and collaboration with member countries to protect our pollinators,” she said.
The issuance of the bee and butterfly assessments is subsequent to the first EU-wide assessment of hoverflies, an additional crucial group of pollinators. Released in 2022, it showed that 37% of all hoverfly varieties in European nations were threatened with extinction.
