The total of native bee species in European nations facing extinction has more than doubled during the previous ten-year period, while the number of threatened butterfly species has close to doubled.
This pressing issue for vital pollinating species was revealed by scientific studies for the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) red list, which determined that at least 172 bee species out of nearly two thousand were facing extinction in the European continent.
The number of butterfly species facing extinction in Europe has increased from thirty-seven to sixty-five since the last study, carried out a decade and a half ago. One species, the large white of Madeira (Pieris wollastoni) has now been classified as extinct.
Apart from their beauty and cultural value, pollinators like bees along with butterflies are essential supports for our well-being, our food systems and our economic systems – maintaining the fruits, vegetables and seeds that nourish us,” stated the IUCN’s director general. “The most recent European red list assessments reveal major obstacles, with risks increasing for butterfly types and essential non-managed bee species.”
The factors of the rapid recent declines are the persistent damage or destruction of living environments caused by intensive agriculture and land abandonment, draining wetlands, excessive grazing by animals, and the use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides including neonicotinoid chemicals. The breaking up of environments suitable for pollinators greatly increases the danger of extinctions at local level.
Global warming is also revealed to be a major threat: 52% of all at-risk butterfly types in European nations are endangered by the climate emergency – roughly twice as many as a ten years ago.
Up to 90% of flowering plants in the European continent require pollination by animals, as per Dr Denis Michez. “Sadly, wild bee colonies are in sharp decrease and cannot be easily replaced by managed bee colonies,” he said. “If native bees disappear, many wild plants might be at risk too – of which bloom-filled grasslands and lovely orchid types are just a handful of illustrations.”
Fifteen species of bumblebees, which perform a vital function in pollinating legumes like peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and fourteen varieties of cellophane bees, recognized for pollinating trees such as willows and red maples, are now listed as threatened. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee exclusive to the mainland and the only species of this genus group in the European continent, is now assessed as critically at risk – the scientific classification most akin to dying out in natural habitats.
Butterfly species that are solely present on mountain tops are especially at risk to global warming as they have to climb upward as their environments become hotter but eventually exhaust available space. In Spain’s southern region, the Nevada grayling butterfly and the Andalusian anomalous blue butterfly are among more than 40% of types unique to Europe (exclusive to Europe) facing extinction.
In the Mediterranean region, types such as the highly at-risk Karpathos grayling butterfly are imperilled by extreme wildfires and drought.
In the meantime, in the Far North, global warming is causing the timberline to move north by dozens of meters each year, with underbrush encroaching on marsh and tundra. Higher temperatures also mean caribou can no longer cross the ice sheets to graze northern grasslands and maintain them clear. Eight butterfly species are threatened with extinction in this region, including Freyja’s fritillary and the Arctic ringlet.
“The biggest environment for all these pollinating species is flower-rich grassland and that is disappearing very fast across European nations because of all these elements,” said a lead coordinator for the butterfly assessment. “The good news is that so many people care now and there’s a lot more awareness. Under the EU nature restoration legislation, all member countries have to halt the decrease in pollinating insects by 2030, and they are going to have to begin taking action. There are landowners who are involved. It is hoped they can obtain the incentives that will assist them on their way.”
As stated by Martin Warren, there is “easy opportunities” in terms of measures for pollinating insects which will not lower crop yields – and may enhance it – such as growers creating margins rich in flowers around their farmland.
Jessika Roswall, characterized the protection status of non-managed bees, butterfly species and other pollinating insects as “severe”.
“Prompt and unified steps is needed to address this danger. Together with member states, the European Commission has implemented an EU-wide tracking system for pollinators based on the EU nature restoration law, which will aid in following our progress. Now, we need to prioritize execution and collaboration with member countries to protect our pollinating species,” she said.
The release of the evaluations of bees along with butterflies follows the first Europe-wide study on hoverflies, an additional crucial pollinator group. Released in 2022, it disclosed that thirty-seven percent of all hoverfly types in the European continent were facing extinction.
