The total of non-managed bee species in European nations facing extinction has increased twofold in the last ten years, whereas the number of at-risk butterfly has close to doubled.
This critical situation for vital pollinators was revealed by research studies for the red list of threatened species, which determined that at least over 170 bee types out of over 1900 were at risk of extinction in the European continent.
The number of butterfly types facing extinction in European nations has risen from thirty-seven to over sixty since the earlier research, performed 14 years ago. One species, the Madeiran large white (Pieris wollastoni) has now been confirmed extinct.
Apart from their beauty and cultural significance, pollinators like bees and butterflies are lifelines for our health, our food chains and our economies – maintaining the produce, vegetables and seeds that sustain us,” stated the IUCN director general. “The most recent European red list assessments reveal significant difficulties, with dangers mounting for butterflies and vital native bee species.”
The reasons of the quick recent decreases are the ongoing harm or degradation of living environments caused by farming intensification and land abandonment, draining wetlands, excessive grazing by animals, and the utilization of pesticides and fertilisers including neonicotinoids. The fragmentation of pollinator-friendly habitat greatly increases the threat of extinctions at local level.
Climate change is also demonstrated to be a major threat: Fifty-two percent of all at-risk butterfly types in the European continent are threatened by the climate emergency – about double the number as a decade ago.
As many as 90% of blooming plants in European nations require pollination by animals, as per the lead coordinator of the wild bee assessment. “Sadly, native bee populations are in drastic decline and cannot readily be substituted by managed colonies,” he said. “If wild bees die out, many wild plants might be threatened too – of which meadows rich in flowers and beautiful orchid species are just a few examples.”
Fifteen species of bumblebee species, which play a crucial role in aiding the pollination of crops such as peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and 14 species of cellophane bee species, known for fertilizing trees such as willows and red maples, are now listed as threatened. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee unique to the continent and the single type of this genus in European nations, is now assessed as critically at risk – the scientific classification nearest to dying out in natural habitats.
Butterfly types that are solely present on mountain tops are particularly vulnerable to climate change as they have to climb upward as their environments become more heated but eventually run out of space. In the southern part of Spain, the Nevada grayling and the anomalous blue of Andalusia are among more than 40% of types unique to Europe (solely present in Europe) threatened with extinction.
In the Mediterranean region, varieties such as the critically endangered grayling of Karpathos are endangered by severe wildfires and drought.
Meanwhile, in the Arctic region, global warming is causing the timberline to shift northward by tens of metres each year, with underbrush invading bog and tundra. Higher temperatures also mean reindeer can no longer cross the ice sheets to browse northern grasslands and maintain them clear. Eight butterfly species are at risk of extinction in this area, including Freyja’s fritillary butterfly and the Arctic ringlet butterfly.
“The greatest environment for all these pollinators is grassland rich in flowers and that is disappearing very fast in the European continent because of all these reasons,” said one of the lead coordinators of the butterflies assessment. “The positive thing is that so many citizens are concerned now and there’s a lot more understanding. Under the EU nature restoration legislation, all member countries have to reverse the decrease in pollinators by the year 2030, and they are going to have to start doing something. There are land holders who are interested. It is hoped they can obtain the incentives that will assist them on their way.”
As stated by the coordinator, there is “low-hanging fruit” in terms of steps for pollinators which will not lower food production – and could improve it – such as agricultural producers developing margins rich in flowers around their fields.
Jessika Roswall, portrayed the preservation condition of native bees, butterflies and additional pollinators as “dire”.
“Urgent and collective action is needed to confront this danger. In collaboration with member countries, the European Commission has implemented an European Union-wide monitoring system for pollinating insects based on the EU nature restoration law, which will assist in monitoring our progress. Now, we need to prioritize execution and partnership with member countries to protect our pollinating species,” she said.
The release of the assessments on bees and butterflies is subsequent to the pioneering Europe-wide assessment of hoverflies, another crucial pollinating insect category. Published in twenty-twenty-two, it revealed that 37% of all hoverfly types in European nations were threatened with extinction.
