The total of non-managed bee varieties in Europe confronting extinction has increased twofold in the last ten years, whereas the count of endangered butterfly types has almost doubled.
This pressing issue for vital pollinating insects 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 1,928 were facing extinction in the European continent.
The count of butterfly types threatened with extinction in the European continent has risen from over thirty-five to over sixty since the last study, performed over a decade past. One type, the Madeiran large white butterfly (Pieris wollastoni) has now been confirmed extinct.
“Beyond their beauty and cultural importance, pollinating species like bees and butterfly species are lifelines for our physical condition, our food supplies and our economies – supporting the fruits, veggies and seeds that nourish us,” commented the IUCN director general. “The newest European red list evaluations reveal significant difficulties, with risks mounting for butterflies and vital non-managed bee types.”
The factors of the quick recent decreases are the continuing harm or degradation of habitats caused by farming intensification and land abandonment, wetland drainage, livestock overgrazing, and the utilization of fertilisers and pesticides including neonicotinoids. The division of pollinator-friendly habitat significantly raises the danger of extinctions at local level.
Global heating is also demonstrated to be a major threat: Fifty-two percent of all endangered butterfly species in European nations are threatened by the climate emergency – roughly double the number as a previous decade.
Up to 90% of blooming plants in Europe depend on pollination by animals, as stated by the lead coordinator of the wild bee assessment. “Sadly, wild bee colonies are in severe drop and cannot readily be substituted by managed bee colonies,” he said. “If native bees disappear, many non-cultivated plants might be at risk too – of which meadows rich in flowers and attractive orchid varieties are just a handful of illustrations.”
Fifteen species of bumblebee species, which play a crucial role in aiding the pollination of peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and 14 species of cellophane bees, known for aiding tree pollination such as willow trees and red maples, are now classified as threatened. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee type exclusive to the European continent and the only species of this biological genus in European nations, is now evaluated as critically endangered – the scientific classification nearest to extinction in the wild.
Butterflies that are only found on mountain tops are highly susceptible to global heating as they need to move uphill as their habitats become hotter but in the end have no room left. In southern Spain, the Nevada grayling butterfly and the Andalusian anomalous blue are among more than 40% of types unique to Europe (exclusive to Europe) facing extinction.
In the Mediterranean, types such as the critically endangered Karpathos grayling are endangered by severe wildfires and drought.
Meanwhile, in the Arctic region, global heating is leading to the forest boundary to shift northward by many meters each year, with bushes encroaching on marsh and tundra. Warmer conditions also mean reindeer can not anymore cross the frozen water to browse northern grasslands and maintain them clear. 8 butterfly varieties are at risk of extinction in this area, including Freyja’s fritillary and the Arctic ringlet butterfly.
“The greatest living space for all these pollinating species is flower-rich grassland and that is disappearing very fast throughout Europe because of all these factors,” said one of the lead coordinators of the butterflies assessment. “The encouraging aspect is that so many individuals are aware now and there’s a lot more awareness. Under the EU nature restoration legislation, all member states have to reverse the decrease in pollinating species by the year 2030, and they are going to have to begin taking action. There are property owners who are involved. Let’s hope they can get the incentives that will support them on their way.”
As per Warren, there is “low-hanging fruit” in terms of steps for pollinators which will not lower crop yields – and could improve it – such as agricultural producers developing margins rich in flowers around their cultivated areas.
EU commissioner for environment, characterized the protection status of non-managed bees, butterfly species and other pollinating insects as “critical”.
“Urgent and collective action is necessary to address this threat. In collaboration with member countries, the Commission of the European Union has implemented an EU-wide monitoring system for pollinators based on the European Union nature restoration legislation, which will assist in monitoring our progress. Now, we need to prioritize application and partnership with member countries to safeguard our pollinators,” she said.
The issuance of the bee and butterfly assessments is subsequent to the initial European-wide assessment of hoverflies, an additional essential pollinating insect category. Published in 2022, it showed that thirty-seven percent of all hoverfly varieties in Europe were at risk of extinction.
