The count of native bee types in Europe experiencing extinction has over doubled over the past decade, while the total of endangered butterfly species has close to doubled.
This pressing issue for essential pollinating insects was unveiled by scientific studies for the IUCN red list, which found that at least over 170 bee species out of over 1900 were threatened with extinction in the European continent.
The number of butterfly species facing extinction in European nations has risen from 37 to 65 since the earlier research, carried out over a decade past. One type, the large white of Madeira (Pieris wollastoni) has now been classified as extinct.
“Beyond their visual charm and cultural value, pollinating insects like bees and butterflies are lifelines for our health, our food systems and our economic systems – supporting the fruits, vegetables and seeds that feed us,” said the IUCN’s director general. “The latest European red list assessments reveal significant difficulties, with dangers growing for butterfly types and crucial non-managed bee species.”
The factors of the swift recent drops are the persistent harm or degradation of natural habitats caused by intensive agriculture and land abandonment, draining of wetlands, excessive grazing by animals, and the application of pesticides and fertilisers including neonicotinoid pesticides. The breaking up of environments suitable for pollinators substantially boosts the risk of disappearances in specific areas.
Global heating is also demonstrated to be a primary risk: Fifty-two percent of all endangered butterflies in Europe are imperilled by the climate crisis – about double the number as a ten years ago.
Nearly ninety percent of blooming plants in European nations depend on pollination by animals, as per the wild bee assessment’s lead coordinator. “Sadly, native bee groups are in severe drop and cannot readily be substituted by managed bee colonies,” he said. “If non-managed bees vanish, many non-cultivated plants might be in danger as well – of which bloom-filled grasslands and beautiful orchid species are just a few examples.”
15 varieties of bumblebees, which play a crucial role in aiding the pollination of legumes like peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and 14 species of cellophane bee species, famous for fertilizing trees such as willows and red maples, are now listed as threatened. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee type found only in the continent and the only species of this genus in European nations, is now assessed as critically endangered – the scientific category closest to extinction in the wild.
Butterfly types that are only found on high-altitude areas are particularly vulnerable to global warming as they have to climb upward as their living spaces become more heated but eventually have no room left. In the southern part of Spain, the grayling of Nevada and the Andalusian anomalous blue butterfly are among over forty percent of European endemics (only found in Europe) threatened with extinction.
In the Mediterranean region, species such as the critically endangered grayling of Karpathos are threatened by intense dry conditions and fires.
Meanwhile, in the Arctic Circle, climate change is leading to the tree line to advance northwards by dozens of meters each year, with bushes invading marsh and tundra. Warmer conditions also mean reindeer can not anymore cross the ice sheets to browse northern grasslands and prevent them from overgrowing. Eight types of butterflies are threatened with extinction in this region, including Freyja’s fritillary and the Arctic ringlet butterfly.
“The greatest habitat for all these pollinating insects is flower-rich grassland and that is disappearing very fast across the European continent because of all these reasons,” remarked Martin Warren. “The encouraging aspect is that so many individuals are concerned now and there’s a lot more awareness. Under the EU’s nature restoration regulation, all member countries have to reverse the decrease in pollinators by 2030, and they are going to have to begin taking action. There are landowners who are engaged. We hope they can receive the encouragements that will support them on their way.”
As per Warren, there is “easy opportunities” in terms of steps for pollinating species which will not decrease crop yields – and might boost it – such as agricultural producers establishing flower-rich margins around their fields.
the EU’s environment commissioner, portrayed the conservation status of native bees, butterflies and additional pollinators as “dire”.
“Urgent and collective action is needed to address this danger. Along with member states, the EU Commission has established an European Union-wide tracking system for pollinators based on the EU nature restoration law, which will aid in following our advancement. Now, we need to concentrate on application and collaboration with member countries to protect our pollinating species,” she said.
The release of the evaluations of bees along with butterflies comes after the first EU-wide study on hoverflies, another vital pollinator group. Published in 2022, it showed that 37% of all hoverfly types in Europe were facing extinction.
