The count of wild bee species in the European continent experiencing disappearance has more than doubled in the last ten years, while the number of endangered butterfly has almost doubled.
This critical situation for crucial pollinating insects was disclosed by scientific assessments for the red list of threatened species, which found that at least 172 bee species out of 1,928 were threatened with extinction in European nations.
The total of butterfly types threatened with extinction in Europe has risen from over thirty-five to over sixty since the last study, conducted a decade and a half ago. One species, the Madeiran large white butterfly (Pieris wollastoni) has now been declared extinct.
In addition to their beauty and cultural importance, pollinators like bees and butterfly species are crucial elements for our physical condition, our food chains and our economies – sustaining the fruits, vegetables and seeds that nourish us,” stated the IUCN’s director general. “The most recent European red list evaluations reveal serious challenges, with risks growing for butterfly types and essential native bee species.”
The reasons of the rapid recent declines are the ongoing damage or destruction of habitats caused by farming intensification and deserted farmland, wetland drainage, livestock overgrazing, and the utilization of pesticides and fertilisers including neonicotinoid pesticides. The fragmentation of habitat friendly to pollinators substantially boosts the danger of disappearances in specific areas.
Global warming is also shown to be a major threat: Fifty-two percent of all threatened butterfly types in European nations are imperilled by the climate crisis – about double the number as a decade ago.
Up to 90% of blooming plants in the European continent require pollination by animals, as per Dr Denis Michez. “Regrettably, wild bee populations are in sharp decrease and cannot be easily replaced by managed colonies,” he said. “If non-managed bees die out, many native plants might be at risk too – of which bloom-filled grasslands and lovely orchid types are just a couple of instances.”
Fifteen types of bumblebee types, which perform a vital function in pollinating legumes like peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and 14 types of cellophane bees, famous for aiding tree pollination such as willows and red maples, are now categorized as at-risk. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee unique to the mainland and the sole species of this genus group in European nations, is now classified as critically at risk – the scientific classification closest to extinction in the wild.
Butterfly types that are solely present on mountain peaks are especially at risk to climate change as they need to move uphill as their habitats become warmer but ultimately exhaust available space. In Spain’s southern region, the grayling of Nevada and the Andalusian anomalous blue butterfly are among more than 40% of species endemic to Europe (only found in Europe) threatened with extinction.
In the Mediterranean area, varieties such as the critically endangered Karpathos grayling butterfly are threatened by severe wildfires and drought.
At the same time, in the Far North, global warming is leading to the timberline to advance northwards by dozens of meters each year, with scrub encroaching on bog and tundra. Warmer conditions also mean reindeer can no longer cross the ice to graze Arctic meadows and prevent them from overgrowing. Eight butterfly species are facing extinction in this region, including Freyja’s fritillary butterfly and the Arctic ringlet.
“The greatest habitat for all these pollinators is grassland rich in flowers and that is declining quickly in European nations because of all these reasons,” stated a lead coordinator for the butterfly assessment. “The good news is that so many individuals are aware now and there’s a lot more understanding. Under the European Union nature restoration law, all participating nations have to reverse the decline in pollinating insects by the year 2030, and they are going to have to start doing something. There are property owners who are engaged. It is hoped they can get the incentives that will assist them on their way.”
As per Martin Warren, there is “easy opportunities” in terms of measures for pollinators which will not decrease agricultural output – and might boost it – such as agricultural producers developing bloom-filled edges around their fields.
Jessika Roswall, described the conservation status of native bees, butterflies and additional pollinators as “severe”.
“Prompt and unified steps is necessary to tackle this risk. Together with member countries, the Commission of the European Union has implemented an EU-wide monitoring system for pollinating insects based on the EU nature restoration regulation, which will help to track our progress. Now, we need to focus on execution and partnership with member countries to preserve our pollinators,” she said.
The publication of the bee and butterfly assessments follows the first EU-wide evaluation of hoverflies, another crucial pollinator group. Issued in twenty-twenty-two, it revealed that 37% of all hoverfly types in Europe were facing extinction.
