The number of native bee varieties in the European continent confronting dying out has increased twofold in the last ten years, and the total of endangered butterfly types has close to doubled.
This pressing issue for essential pollinators was unveiled by scientific studies for the red list of threatened species, which established that at least 172 bee types out of 1,928 were at risk of extinction in the European continent.
The total of butterfly species at risk of extinction in European nations has increased from 37 to sixty-five since the earlier research, conducted 14 years ago. One species, the Madeiran large white butterfly (Pieris wollastoni) has now been classified as extinct.
Apart from their beauty and cultural importance, pollinating insects like bees and butterflies are essential supports for our health, our food systems and our economic systems – maintaining the fruits, veggies and seeds that feed us,” said the IUCN’s director general. “The newest assessments of the European red list reveal major obstacles, with dangers increasing for butterflies and vital native bee varieties.”
The causes of the rapid recent declines are the continuing harm or degradation of natural habitats caused by intensive agriculture and deserted farmland, draining wetlands, livestock overgrazing, and the utilization of pesticides and fertilisers including neonicotinoid chemicals. The fragmentation of pollinator-friendly habitat significantly raises the threat of extinctions at local level.
Global heating is also demonstrated to be a major threat: 52% of all threatened butterfly species in European nations are imperilled by the climate change crisis – roughly twofold the amount as a decade ago.
Up to nine out of ten of flowering plants in the European continent depend on animal pollination, according to Dr Denis Michez. “Unfortunately, wild bee colonies are in drastic decline and cannot be easily replaced by managed bee colonies,” he said. “If native bees die out, many wild plants might be in danger as well – of which bloom-filled grasslands and beautiful orchid species are just a handful of illustrations.”
15 varieties of bumblebee types, which perform a vital function in pollinating legumes like 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 listed as threatened. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee type found only in the European continent and the only species of this biological genus in Europe, is now assessed as critically endangered – the scientific category nearest to dying out in natural habitats.
Butterfly types that are only found on mountain peaks are highly susceptible to climate change as they must ascend higher as their living spaces become hotter but in the end have no room left. In the southern part of Spain, the grayling of Nevada and the anomalous blue of Andalusia are among more than 40% of species endemic to Europe (solely present in Europe) facing extinction.
In the Mediterranean region, types such as the severely threatened grayling of Karpathos are threatened by intense dry conditions and fires.
Meanwhile, in the Far North, global heating is leading to the tree line to shift northward by tens of metres each year, with bushes encroaching on wetlands and tundra. Warmer conditions also mean reindeer can no more cross the frozen water to browse northern grasslands and maintain them clear. Eight types of butterflies are at risk of extinction in this zone, including Freyja’s fritillary and the Arctic ringlet butterfly.
“The biggest habitat for all these pollinating species is flower-rich grassland and that is vanishing rapidly throughout European nations because of all these factors,” stated a lead coordinator for the butterfly assessment. “The encouraging aspect is that so many individuals care now and there’s a lot more consciousness. Under the EU nature restoration legislation, all member states have to reverse the decrease in pollinating species by twenty-thirty, and they are going to have to begin taking action. There are land holders who are engaged. It is hoped they can get the encouragements that will help them on their way.”
As stated by Martin Warren, there is “easy opportunities” in terms of action for pollinators which will not lower food production – and might boost it – such as growers establishing margins rich in flowers around their farmland.
Jessika Roswall, portrayed the conservation status of non-managed bees, butterfly species and other pollinating insects as “critical”.
“Urgent and collective action is needed to address this risk. Together with member states, the European Commission has implemented an European Union-wide observation system for pollinating species based on the EU nature restoration law, which will aid in following our development. Now, we need to concentrate on implementation and cooperation with participating nations to preserve our pollinating species,” she said.
The publication of the bee and butterfly assessments is subsequent to the first Europe-wide evaluation of hoverflies, an additional essential pollinating insect category. Issued in 2022, it revealed that over one-third of all hoverfly species in European nations were threatened with extinction.
