The total of native bee types in the European continent experiencing extinction has over doubled over the past decade, while the count of threatened butterfly species has nearly doubled.
This pressing issue for vital pollinating insects was revealed by research studies for the red list of threatened species, which determined that at least 172 bee species out of over 1900 were at risk of extinction in the European continent.
The number of butterflies threatened with extinction in the European continent has grown from over thirty-five to sixty-five since the previous assessment, carried out a decade and a half ago. One type, the large white of Madeira (Pieris wollastoni) has now been classified as extinct.
Apart from their visual charm and cultural value, pollinating species like bees and butterfly species are essential supports for our well-being, our food chains and our financial structures – supporting the produce, vegetables and seeds that nourish us,” said the IUCN director general. “The newest assessments of the European red list reveal significant difficulties, with threats mounting for butterflies and vital non-managed bee species.”
The reasons of the rapid recent declines are the ongoing destruction or damage of natural habitats caused by agricultural intensification and deserted farmland, draining of wetlands, livestock overgrazing, and the application of fertilisers and pesticides including neonicotinoid pesticides. The division of pollinator-friendly habitat substantially boosts the risk of disappearances in specific areas.
Climate change is also shown to be a significant danger: Over half of all at-risk butterfly types in European nations are imperilled by the climate crisis – roughly twofold the amount as a previous decade.
Up to nine out of ten of blooming plants in the European continent rely on animal pollination, as stated by the lead coordinator of the wild bee assessment. “Sadly, wild bee colonies are in sharp decrease and cannot be easily replaced by managed bee colonies,” he said. “If wild bees die out, many non-cultivated plants might be threatened too – of which bloom-filled grasslands and attractive orchid varieties are just a few examples.”
Fifteen species of bumblebee types, which play a crucial role in aiding the pollination of peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and 14 species of cellophane bee types, known for fertilizing trees such as willows along with red maples, are now classified as threatened. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee found only in the mainland and the single type of this biological genus in Europe, is now evaluated as severely threatened – the scientific category closest to extinction in the wild.
Butterfly types that are only found on mountain tops are highly susceptible to global warming as they have to climb upward as their environments become more heated but in the end exhaust available space. In Spain’s southern region, the grayling of Nevada and the Andalusian anomalous blue are among above 40 percent of types unique to Europe (exclusive to Europe) facing extinction.
In the Mediterranean area, types such as the highly at-risk Karpathos grayling are threatened by severe wildfires and drought.
In the meantime, in the Arctic region, climate change is leading to the forest boundary to move north by dozens of meters each year, with underbrush taking over bog and tundra. Hotter climates also mean Arctic deer can no more cross the frozen water to graze northern grasslands and keep them open. Eight types of butterflies are facing extinction in this zone, including Freyja’s fritillary and the Arctic ringlet.
“The biggest environment for all these pollinating species is grassland rich in flowers and that is declining quickly throughout the European continent because of all these reasons,” remarked one of the lead coordinators of the butterflies assessment. “The encouraging aspect is that so many individuals are concerned now and there’s a lot more consciousness. Under the EU nature restoration legislation, all member states have to reverse the decline in pollinating species by 2030, and they are going to have to start doing something. There are land holders who are engaged. We hope they can get the encouragements that will assist them on their way.”
According to the coordinator, there is “low-hanging fruit” in terms of measures for pollinating insects which will not lower agricultural output – and may enhance it – such as growers establishing bloom-filled edges around their cultivated areas.
EU commissioner for environment, portrayed the preservation condition of wild bees, butterflies and other pollinators as “critical”.
“Urgent and collective action is needed to address this risk. Together with participating nations, the EU Commission has established an EU-wide observation system for pollinators based on the EU nature restoration law, which will aid in following our development. Now, we need to concentrate on execution and partnership with participating nations to safeguard our pollinating insects,” she said.
The publication of the evaluations of bees along with butterflies is subsequent to the initial EU-wide assessment of hoverflies, an additional essential pollinator group. Issued in 2022, it showed that thirty-seven percent of all hoverfly species in Europe were facing extinction.
