The number of native bee varieties in Europe facing disappearance has increased twofold over the past decade, while the total of at-risk butterfly types has almost doubled.
This pressing issue for crucial pollinating species was unveiled by scientific assessments for the red list of threatened species, which found that at least 172 bee species out of over 1900 were facing extinction in Europe.
The count of butterflies at risk of extinction in European nations has risen from 37 to 65 since the earlier research, conducted over a decade past. One type, the Madeiran large white butterfly (Pieris wollastoni) has now been declared extinct.
Apart from their beauty and cultural significance, pollinating insects like bees and butterfly species are lifelines for our well-being, our food systems and our economic systems – sustaining the fruits, veggies and seeds that sustain us,” said the IUCN’s director general. “The latest European red list evaluations reveal significant difficulties, with dangers increasing for butterflies and vital non-managed bee species.”
The causes of the swift recent drops are the persistent damage or destruction of natural habitats caused by intensive agriculture and abandoned land, draining of wetlands, overgrazing by livestock, and the utilization of chemical fertilisers and pesticides including neonicotinoid pesticides. The fragmentation of pollinator-friendly habitat significantly raises the threat of extinctions at local level.
Global heating is also shown to be a significant danger: Fifty-two percent of all threatened butterflies in Europe are imperilled by the climate crisis – approximately twofold the amount as a decade ago.
Nearly nine out of ten of plants that flower in European nations require pollination by animals, as per Dr Denis Michez. “Sadly, native bee groups are in severe drop and cannot readily be substituted by managed colonies,” he said. “If native bees disappear, many wild plants might be in danger as well – of which flower-rich meadows and attractive orchid varieties are just a couple of instances.”
15 varieties of bumblebees, which perform a vital function in pollinating crops such as peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and 14 species of cellophane bee types, known for fertilizing trees such as willow trees and red maples, are now listed as threatened. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee species unique to the continent and the only species of this biological genus in the European continent, is now classified as severely threatened – the scientific category closest to dying out in natural habitats.
Butterfly species that are only found on high-altitude areas are highly susceptible to global heating as they have to climb upward as their habitats become more heated but eventually run out of space. In Spain’s southern region, the Nevada grayling butterfly and the Andalusian anomalous blue are among more than 40% of types unique to Europe (only found in Europe) threatened with extinction.
In the Mediterranean region, varieties such as the highly at-risk grayling of Karpathos are threatened by severe drought and wildfires.
At the same time, in the Far North, global warming is causing the timberline to move north by many meters each year, with underbrush taking over wetlands and tundra. Hotter climates also mean Arctic deer can not anymore cross the ice to feed on Arctic meadows and maintain them clear. Eight butterfly species are threatened with extinction in this zone, including Freyja’s fritillary and the ringlet of the Arctic.
“The biggest habitat for all these pollinators is flower-rich grassland and that is disappearing very fast throughout European nations because of all these elements,” stated Martin Warren. “The good news is that so many citizens are aware now and there’s a lot more awareness. Under the EU nature restoration legislation, all participating nations have to reverse the drop in pollinating species by the year 2030, and they are going to have to start doing something. There are land holders who are interested. It is hoped they can receive the encouragements that will support them on their way.”
As stated by Martin Warren, there is “easy opportunities” in terms of steps for pollinators which will not lower food production – and could improve it – such as agricultural producers developing flower-rich margins around their cultivated areas.
Jessika Roswall, described the protection status of native bees, butterflies and additional pollinators as “severe”.
“Prompt and unified steps is required to confront this risk. Together with participating nations, the EU Commission has implemented an European Union-wide observation system for pollinating insects based on the European Union nature restoration legislation, which will assist in monitoring our progress. Now, we need to concentrate on execution and cooperation with participating nations to safeguard our pollinating species,” she said.
The issuance of the evaluations of bees along with butterflies follows the first Europe-wide assessment of hoverflies, an additional crucial pollinating insect category. Released in 2022, it disclosed that thirty-seven percent of all hoverfly types in European nations were at risk of extinction.
