The total of non-managed bee varieties in Europe confronting disappearance has increased twofold during the previous ten-year period, while the number of endangered butterfly species has almost doubled.
This critical situation for crucial 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 species out of nearly two thousand were threatened with extinction in Europe.
The count of butterflies facing extinction in the European continent has increased from over thirty-five to over sixty since the previous assessment, conducted 14 years ago. One type, the Madeiran large white (Pieris wollastoni) has now been confirmed extinct.
“Beyond their beauty and cultural significance, pollinating species like bees and butterfly species are crucial elements for our well-being, our food supplies and our economic systems – supporting the fruits, veggies and seeds that feed us,” said the IUCN director general. “The latest assessments of the European red list reveal significant difficulties, with dangers mounting for butterfly species and essential non-managed bee species.”
The reasons of the rapid recent declines are the ongoing damage or destruction of habitats caused by intensive agriculture and land abandonment, wetland drainage, overgrazing by livestock, and the use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides including neonicotinoid pesticides. The fragmentation of pollinator-friendly habitat significantly raises the danger of local extinctions.
Global heating is also shown to be a significant danger: Over half of all endangered butterflies in the European continent are imperilled by the climate crisis – roughly double the number as a ten years ago.
Nearly nine out of ten of blooming plants in Europe depend on insect pollination, according to the lead coordinator of the wild bee assessment. “Regrettably, native bee populations are in drastic decline and cannot be easily replaced by managed colonies,” he said. “If wild bees die out, many native plants might be at risk too – of which meadows rich in flowers and lovely orchid types are just a handful of illustrations.”
Fifteen species of bumblebee species, which have an essential part in fertilizing legumes like peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and fourteen varieties of cellophane bee species, known for fertilizing trees such as willows and red maples, are now listed as threatened. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee exclusive to the continent and the only species of this genus group in the European continent, is now assessed as severely threatened – the research category most akin to disappearance in the wild.
Butterfly types that are solely present on mountain tops are particularly vulnerable to global warming as they must ascend higher as their living spaces become hotter but eventually run out of space. In southern Spain, the Nevada grayling and the Andalusian anomalous blue butterfly are among above 40 percent of types unique to Europe (solely present in Europe) at risk of extinction.
In the Mediterranean, species such as the critically endangered grayling of Karpathos are threatened by intense wildfires and drought.
At the same time, in the Far North, climate change is resulting in the timberline to advance northwards by many meters each year, with underbrush taking over bog and tundra. Higher temperatures also mean caribou can no longer cross the ice sheets to browse Arctic meadows and prevent them from overgrowing. Eight types of butterflies are at risk of extinction in this region, including Freyja’s fritillary butterfly and the Arctic ringlet butterfly.
“The greatest habitat for all these pollinating insects is flower-rich grassland and that is vanishing rapidly in Europe because of all these reasons,” stated 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 consciousness. Under the EU’s nature restoration regulation, all participating nations have to reverse the decline in pollinating species by the year 2030, and they are going to have to start doing something. There are land holders who are involved. We hope they can get the motivations that will assist them on their way.”
According to the coordinator, there is “readily achievable actions” in terms of action for pollinating insects which will not lower food production – and may enhance it – such as farmers creating flower-rich margins around their farmland.
the EU’s environment commissioner, characterized the preservation condition of non-managed bees, butterfly species and other pollinating insects as “severe”.
“Urgent and collective action is needed to tackle this threat. Together with member states, the Commission of the European Union has implemented an EU-wide tracking system for pollinating insects based on the EU nature restoration regulation, which will assist in monitoring our advancement. Now, we need to prioritize execution and collaboration with member states to preserve our pollinating insects,” she said.
The publication of the bee and butterfly assessments follows the initial European-wide study on hoverflies, another crucial pollinator group. Published in twenty-twenty-two, it showed that 37% of all hoverfly species in Europe were threatened with extinction.
