The total of non-managed bee types in the European continent facing extinction has increased twofold over the past decade, while the number of at-risk butterfly species has almost doubled.
This pressing issue for crucial pollinating species was disclosed by research studies for the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) red list, which determined that at least 172 bee types out of over 1900 were facing extinction in the European continent.
The total of butterflies threatened with extinction in Europe has increased from over thirty-five to sixty-five since the earlier research, conducted 14 years ago. One species, the large white of Madeira (Pieris wollastoni) has now been declared extinct.
“Beyond their beauty and cultural importance, pollinators like bees and butterflies are essential supports for our physical condition, our food supplies and our economies – maintaining the produce, vegetables and seeds that sustain us,” stated Grethel Aguilar. “The newest European red list assessments reveal significant difficulties, with threats growing for butterfly species and crucial non-managed bee varieties.”
The factors of the swift recent drops are the continuing destruction or damage of natural habitats caused by farming intensification and land abandonment, wetland drainage, excessive grazing by animals, and the utilization of chemical fertilisers and pesticides including neonicotinoids. The breaking up of environments suitable for pollinators substantially boosts the threat of disappearances in specific areas.
Global heating is also shown to be a major threat: Over half of all endangered butterfly species in European nations are imperilled by the climate emergency – roughly double the number as a previous decade.
Nearly nine out of ten of blooming plants in European nations depend on pollination by animals, according to the lead coordinator of the wild bee assessment. “Sadly, non-managed bee groups are in severe drop and are not easily replaceable by domesticated hives,” he said. “If native bees vanish, many wild plants might be in danger as well – of which bloom-filled grasslands and lovely orchid types are just a couple of instances.”
Fifteen species of bumblebees, which have an essential part in fertilizing peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and fourteen varieties of cellophane bee types, known for fertilizing trees such as willow trees and red maples, are now categorized as at-risk. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee species exclusive to the mainland and the sole species of this biological genus in the European continent, is now assessed as severely threatened – the scientific category nearest to disappearance in the wild.
Butterflies that are only found on mountain peaks are particularly vulnerable to global warming as they need to move uphill as their environments become hotter but ultimately run out of space. In the southern part of Spain, the Nevada grayling butterfly and the anomalous blue of Andalusia are among over forty percent of European endemics (solely present in Europe) at risk of extinction.
In the Mediterranean, types such as the critically endangered grayling of Karpathos are imperilled by extreme drought and wildfires.
At the same time, in the Far North, climate change is causing the forest boundary to advance northwards by many meters each year, with scrub encroaching on bog and tundra. Hotter climates also mean Arctic deer can not anymore cross the ice to feed on Arctic meadows and prevent them from overgrowing. 8 butterfly varieties are at risk of extinction in this area, including the fritillary of Freyja and the ringlet of the Arctic.
“The greatest living space for all these pollinating species is bloom-filled grassy areas and that is vanishing rapidly in European nations because of all these factors,” said one of the lead coordinators of the butterflies assessment. “The encouraging aspect is that so many people care now and there’s a lot more understanding. Under the EU nature restoration legislation, all member states have to reverse the decline in pollinating insects by twenty-thirty, and they are going to have to initiate measures. There are property owners who are interested. Let’s hope they can receive the incentives that will help them on their way.”
As stated by the coordinator, there is “readily achievable actions” in terms of steps for pollinators which will not decrease agricultural output – and may enhance it – such as growers establishing flower-rich margins around their farmland.
EU commissioner for environment, portrayed the preservation condition of non-managed bees, butterfly species and other pollinating insects as “dire”.
“Urgent and collective action is needed to address this danger. Together with participating nations, the EU Commission has established an Europe-wide tracking system for pollinators based on the EU nature restoration law, which will assist in monitoring our progress. Now, we need to prioritize application and partnership with participating nations to protect our pollinators,” she said.
The publication of the evaluations of bees along with butterflies comes after the initial EU-wide assessment of hoverflies, another crucial pollinator group. Published in 2022, it revealed that 37% of all hoverfly types in the European continent were threatened with extinction.
