The count of wild bee types in Europe confronting extinction has increased twofold over the past decade, whereas the count of at-risk butterfly has almost doubled.
This dire scenario for crucial pollinating insects was unveiled by scientific studies for the IUCN red list, which established that at least over 170 bee species out of 1,928 were threatened with extinction in the European continent.
The count of butterflies at risk of extinction in European nations has risen from 37 to sixty-five since the last study, conducted 14 years ago. One type, the large white of Madeira (Pieris wollastoni) has now been confirmed extinct.
“Beyond their aesthetic appeal and cultural value, pollinating insects like bees along with butterflies are essential supports for our well-being, our food chains and our economic systems – maintaining the fruits, veggies and seeds that sustain us,” stated Grethel Aguilar. “The newest assessments of the European red list reveal significant difficulties, with risks growing for butterfly species and essential non-managed bee varieties.”
The factors of the rapid recent declines are the continuing harm or degradation of habitats caused by farming intensification and abandoned land, draining wetlands, excessive grazing by animals, and the utilization of pesticides and fertilisers including neonicotinoids. The division of environments suitable for pollinators significantly raises the danger of extinctions at local level.
Global warming is also shown to be a primary risk: 52% of all at-risk butterfly species in the European continent are threatened by the climate emergency – about twofold the amount as a previous decade.
Up to 90% of flowering plants in the European continent rely on pollination by animals, as per Dr Denis Michez. “Sadly, wild bee populations are in drastic decline and cannot readily be substituted by managed colonies,” he said. “If native bees die out, many non-cultivated plants might be in danger as well – of which bloom-filled grasslands and lovely orchid types are just a few examples.”
15 varieties of bumblebee species, which perform a vital function in pollinating legumes like peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and 14 species of cellophane bee types, recognized for fertilizing trees such as willows along with red maples, are now categorized as at-risk. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee type found only in the mainland and the single type of this genus in the European continent, is now evaluated as severely threatened – the scientific classification closest to disappearance in the wild.
Butterflies that are exclusively located on mountain tops are particularly vulnerable to global heating as they have to climb upward as their living spaces become warmer but eventually run out of space. In the southern part of Spain, the Nevada grayling butterfly and the anomalous blue of Andalusia are among more than 40% of European endemics (only found in Europe) at risk of extinction.
In the Mediterranean area, species such as the critically endangered Karpathos grayling butterfly are threatened by extreme dry conditions and fires.
At the same time, in the Arctic region, global warming is leading to the tree line to move north by many meters each year, with underbrush invading marsh and tundra. Warmer conditions also mean Arctic deer can not anymore cross the ice to graze Arctic meadows and keep them open. Eight types of butterflies are threatened with extinction in this region, including the fritillary of Freyja and the ringlet of the Arctic.
“The greatest environment for all these pollinators is bloom-filled grassy areas and that is disappearing very fast in European nations because of all these reasons,” said one of the lead coordinators of the butterflies assessment. “The encouraging aspect is that so many citizens care now and there’s a lot more awareness. Under the EU nature restoration legislation, all member states have to halt the decline in pollinating species by twenty-thirty, and they are going to have to initiate measures. There are land holders who are engaged. Let’s hope they can obtain the incentives that will help them on their way.”
As per the coordinator, there is “easy opportunities” in terms of measures for pollinating insects which will not lower food production – and could improve it – such as farmers creating flower-rich margins around their fields.
EU commissioner for environment, described the protection status of native bees, butterflies and additional pollinators as “critical”.
“Prompt and unified steps is needed to address this threat. In collaboration with participating nations, the Commission of the European Union has put in place an Europe-wide monitoring system for pollinating insects based on the EU nature restoration regulation, which will help to track our advancement. Now, we need to focus on implementation and partnership with participating nations to protect our pollinating insects,” she said.
The publication of the evaluations of bees along with butterflies follows the initial EU-wide evaluation of hoverflies, another crucial pollinator group. Published in twenty-twenty-two, it disclosed that over one-third of all hoverfly species in European nations were at risk of extinction.
