The count of non-managed bee species in Europe facing dying out has more than doubled in the last ten years, and the count of threatened butterfly types has close to doubled.
This dire scenario for essential pollinators was disclosed by research studies for the red list of threatened species, which established that at least one hundred seventy-two bee species out of nearly two thousand were threatened with extinction in the European continent.
The count of butterfly species at risk of extinction in the European continent has increased from 37 to 65 since the previous assessment, conducted a decade and a half ago. One species, the large white of Madeira (Pieris wollastoni) has now been declared extinct.
Apart from their visual charm and cultural importance, pollinating species like bees and butterflies are essential supports for our well-being, our food systems and our economic systems – supporting the fruits, vegetables and seeds that nourish us,” said the IUCN director general. “The latest assessments of the European red list reveal significant difficulties, with dangers mounting for butterfly types and vital wild bee species.”
The reasons of the quick recent decreases are the ongoing damage or destruction of habitats caused by farming intensification and abandoned land, draining wetlands, livestock overgrazing, and the utilization of fertilisers and pesticides including neonicotinoid pesticides. The division of pollinator-friendly habitat substantially boosts the risk of disappearances in specific areas.
Global heating is also shown to be a major threat: Fifty-two percent of all threatened butterfly species in Europe are threatened by the climate emergency – roughly double the number as a previous decade.
Up to 90% of blooming plants in the European continent depend on pollination by animals, as per the lead coordinator of the wild bee assessment. “Regrettably, wild bee groups are in drastic decline and cannot readily be substituted by managed bee colonies,” he said. “If native bees disappear, many non-cultivated plants might be at risk too – of which bloom-filled grasslands and lovely orchid types are just a few examples.”
15 varieties of bumblebee species, which play a crucial role in pollinating legumes like peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and fourteen varieties of cellophane bee species, recognized for fertilizing trees such as willows along with red maples, are now classified as threatened. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee type found only in the European continent and the single type of this genus in Europe, is now assessed as critically at risk – the scientific category most akin to dying out in natural habitats.
Butterfly species that are exclusively located on high-altitude areas are especially at risk to global heating as they need to move uphill as their environments become hotter but eventually exhaust available space. In southern Spain, the Nevada grayling butterfly and the anomalous blue of Andalusia are among more than 40% of species endemic to Europe (only found in Europe) at risk of extinction.
In the Mediterranean, varieties such as the highly at-risk grayling of Karpathos are endangered by severe dry conditions and fires.
At the same time, in the Far North, global warming is causing the timberline to advance northwards by many meters each year, with bushes invading wetlands and tundra. Hotter climates also mean Arctic deer can no longer cross the ice sheets to feed on northern grasslands and maintain them clear. 8 butterfly varieties are threatened with extinction in this zone, including the fritillary of Freyja and the Arctic ringlet.
“The biggest habitat for all these pollinating species is flower-rich grassland and that is disappearing very fast throughout Europe because of all these reasons,” remarked one of the lead coordinators of the butterflies assessment. “The positive thing is that so many people are concerned now and there’s a lot more awareness. Under the European Union nature restoration law, all participating nations have to turn around the drop in pollinators by the year 2030, and they are going to have to begin taking action. There are land holders who are interested. Let’s hope they can obtain the incentives that will help them on their way.”
As stated by Warren, there is “easy opportunities” in terms of steps for pollinators which will not decrease agricultural output – and may enhance it – such as farmers creating margins rich in flowers around their fields.
Jessika Roswall, described the protection status of non-managed bees, butterfly species and other pollinating insects as “severe”.
“Prompt and unified steps is required to tackle this danger. Together with member countries, the European Commission has implemented an European Union-wide monitoring system for pollinators based on the EU nature restoration regulation, which will aid in following our progress. Now, we need to concentrate on implementation and cooperation with participating nations to protect our pollinating insects,” she said.
The issuance of the evaluations of bees along with butterflies comes after the first Europe-wide evaluation of hoverflies, a further crucial group of pollinators. Issued in 2022, it revealed that thirty-seven percent of all hoverfly types in European nations were at risk of extinction.
