The total of native bee types in Europe experiencing disappearance has more than doubled during the previous ten-year period, whereas the count of endangered butterfly species has almost doubled.
This critical situation for essential pollinators was revealed by research studies for the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) red list, which found that at least over 170 bee types out of over 1900 were facing extinction in European nations.
The total of butterflies threatened with extinction in European nations has risen from thirty-seven to 65 since the earlier research, conducted a decade and a half ago. One species, the large white of Madeira (Pieris wollastoni) has now been classified as extinct.
“Beyond their aesthetic appeal and cultural value, pollinators like bees along with butterflies are crucial elements for our well-being, our food chains and our financial structures – sustaining the fruits, veggies and seeds that nourish us,” commented Grethel Aguilar. “The newest assessments of the European red list reveal significant difficulties, with risks increasing for butterflies and essential wild bee species.”
The factors of the rapid recent declines are the continuing damage or destruction of habitats caused by farming intensification and abandoned land, wetland drainage, overgrazing by livestock, and the use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides including neonicotinoid pesticides. The breaking up of pollinator-friendly habitat substantially boosts the threat of extinctions at local level.
Global heating is also revealed to be a significant danger: Over half of all at-risk butterflies in European nations are threatened by the climate emergency – approximately double the number as a previous decade.
Nearly 90% of plants that flower in Europe rely on animal pollination, as per the lead coordinator of the wild bee assessment. “Regrettably, wild bee populations are in severe drop and are not easily replaceable by domesticated hives,” he said. “If non-managed bees die out, many non-cultivated plants might be threatened too – of which flower-rich meadows and beautiful orchid species are just a few examples.”
Fifteen types of bumblebees, which perform a vital function in aiding the pollination of crops such as peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and 14 species of cellophane bee types, famous for pollinating trees such as willow trees and red maples, are now classified as threatened. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee species unique to the European continent and the single type of this genus group in the European continent, is now classified as critically at risk – the scientific classification most akin to disappearance in the wild.
Butterfly types that are solely present on high-altitude areas are especially at risk to climate change as they must ascend higher as their living spaces become warmer but eventually exhaust available space. In Spain’s southern region, the Nevada grayling and the anomalous blue of Andalusia are among over forty percent of types unique to Europe (solely present in Europe) threatened with extinction.
In the Mediterranean region, varieties such as the highly at-risk Karpathos grayling are imperilled by extreme dry conditions and fires.
Meanwhile, in the Arctic Circle, global heating is causing the tree line to advance northwards by dozens of meters each year, with scrub encroaching on wetlands and tundra. Higher temperatures also mean reindeer can no more cross the ice sheets to feed on Arctic grasslands and maintain them clear. Eight types of butterflies are at risk of extinction in this area, including Freyja’s fritillary butterfly and the ringlet of the Arctic.
“The greatest environment for all these pollinating species is bloom-filled grassy areas and that is vanishing rapidly throughout the European continent because of all these elements,” remarked a lead coordinator for the butterfly assessment. “The positive thing is that so many people are aware now and there’s a lot more consciousness. Under the EU nature restoration legislation, all member countries have to halt the drop in pollinators by 2030, and they are going to have to start doing something. There are land holders who are involved. It is hoped they can get the motivations that will help them on their way.”
As stated by Martin Warren, there is “easy opportunities” in terms of measures for pollinating species which will not decrease food production – and may enhance it – such as agricultural producers establishing bloom-filled edges around their fields.
Jessika Roswall, characterized the protection status of native bees, butterflies and additional pollinators as “severe”.
“Prompt and unified steps is necessary to tackle this danger. In collaboration with member states, the Commission of the European Union has established an European Union-wide observation system for pollinating insects based on the EU nature restoration regulation, which will help to track our advancement. Now, we need to concentrate on execution and collaboration with participating nations to protect our pollinating species,” she said.
The release of the assessments on bees and butterflies follows the first Europe-wide study on hoverflies, a further vital pollinating insect category. Issued in 2022, it revealed that 37% of all hoverfly species in the European continent were at risk of extinction.
