The count of native bee species in the European continent experiencing dying out has more than doubled in the last ten years, and the number of at-risk butterfly types has almost doubled.
This pressing issue for vital pollinating insects was revealed by scientific assessments for the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) red list, which established that at least 172 bee varieties out of nearly two thousand were threatened with extinction in Europe.
The total of butterfly species threatened with extinction in European nations has increased from 37 to over sixty since the last study, conducted 14 years ago. A single species, the Madeiran large white butterfly (Pieris wollastoni) has now been declared extinct.
In addition to their beauty and cultural value, pollinating insects like bees and butterflies are essential supports for our well-being, our food chains and our economic systems – supporting the fruits, vegetables and seeds that sustain us,” commented the IUCN director general. “The latest European red list assessments reveal serious challenges, with dangers growing for butterfly types and essential native bee types.”
The factors of the quick recent decreases are the persistent damage or destruction of habitats caused by agricultural intensification and land abandonment, draining wetlands, overgrazing by livestock, and the application of pesticides and fertilisers including neonicotinoid chemicals. The division of pollinator-friendly habitat greatly increases the threat of disappearances in specific areas.
Climate change is also demonstrated to be a major threat: 52% of all at-risk butterflies in Europe are imperilled by the climate change crisis – approximately double the number as a decade ago.
Nearly ninety percent of blooming plants in the European continent rely on animal pollination, as per the lead coordinator of the wild bee assessment. “Unfortunately, native bee populations are in drastic decline and cannot readily be substituted by managed bee colonies,” he said. “If wild bees die out, many native plants might be in danger as well – of which bloom-filled grasslands and beautiful orchid species are just a couple of instances.”
Fifteen species of bumblebee types, which have an essential part in aiding the pollination of peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and 14 species of cellophane bee types, famous for aiding tree pollination such as willow trees and red maples, are now listed as threatened. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee exclusive to the mainland and the only species of this biological genus in the European continent, is now classified as severely threatened – the scientific classification most akin to dying out in natural habitats.
Butterfly types that are exclusively located on mountain tops are particularly vulnerable to climate change as they must ascend higher as their habitats become more heated but in the end exhaust available space. In Spain’s southern region, the Nevada grayling and the Andalusian anomalous blue butterfly are among above 40 percent of species endemic to Europe (exclusive to Europe) threatened with extinction.
In the Mediterranean, varieties such as the critically endangered grayling of Karpathos are threatened by severe dry conditions and fires.
In the meantime, in the Arctic region, climate change is leading to the timberline to move north by tens of metres each year, with underbrush taking over marsh and tundra. Warmer conditions also mean reindeer can not anymore cross the ice sheets to graze northern grasslands and keep them open. Eight types of butterflies are at risk of extinction in this area, including Freyja’s fritillary and the ringlet of the Arctic.
“The biggest environment for all these pollinating species is flower-rich grassland and that is declining quickly across Europe because of all these reasons,” remarked Martin Warren. “The encouraging aspect is that so many citizens are concerned now and there’s a lot more consciousness. Under the EU’s nature restoration regulation, all member states have to halt the decline in pollinators by twenty-thirty, and they are going to have to start doing something. There are property owners who are interested. It is hoped they can get the encouragements that will assist them on their way.”
According to the coordinator, there is “readily achievable actions” in terms of measures for pollinating insects which will not decrease crop yields – and may enhance it – such as growers developing margins rich in flowers around their cultivated areas.
the EU’s environment commissioner, characterized the preservation condition of non-managed bees, butterfly species and other pollinating insects as “severe”.
“Immediate and joint measures is required to tackle this danger. Together with member states, the Commission of the European Union has put in place an European Union-wide tracking system for pollinating insects based on the EU nature restoration law, which will help to track our progress. Now, we need to focus on application and cooperation with member countries to safeguard our pollinating insects,” she said.
The issuance of the assessments on bees and butterflies is subsequent to the initial European-wide assessment of hoverflies, another vital pollinator group. Published in 2022, it disclosed that 37% of all hoverfly species in the European continent were facing extinction.
