The count of non-managed bee species in European nations facing disappearance has increased twofold over the past decade, while the total of threatened butterfly species has close to doubled.
This dire scenario for crucial pollinating species was disclosed by research studies for the red list of threatened species, which determined that at least 172 bee species out of 1,928 were facing extinction in the European continent.
The count of butterflies at risk of extinction in the European continent has grown from 37 to 65 since the earlier research, conducted 14 years ago. One species, the Madeiran large white butterfly (Pieris wollastoni) has now been declared extinct.
“Beyond their visual charm and cultural value, pollinating insects like bees along with butterflies are lifelines for our health, our food systems and our financial structures – supporting the fruits, veggies and seeds that nourish us,” said the IUCN director general. “The most recent European red list evaluations reveal major obstacles, with threats growing for butterflies and essential native bee species.”
The factors of the rapid recent declines are the continuing harm or degradation of habitats caused by agricultural intensification and deserted farmland, wetland drainage, livestock overgrazing, and the application of pesticides and fertilisers including neonicotinoid pesticides. The breaking up of habitat friendly to pollinators substantially boosts the risk of disappearances in specific areas.
Global warming is also revealed to be a significant danger: Over half of all threatened butterfly species in the European continent are endangered by the climate change crisis – roughly double the number as a ten years ago.
As many as ninety percent of flowering plants in European nations rely on insect pollination, as per the lead coordinator of the wild bee assessment. “Sadly, wild bee groups are in drastic decline and cannot be easily replaced by managed bee colonies,” he said. “If wild bees disappear, many wild plants might be threatened too – of which bloom-filled grasslands and beautiful orchid species are just a couple of instances.”
Fifteen species of bumblebees, which play a crucial role in fertilizing crops such as peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and 14 species of cellophane bees, recognized for aiding tree pollination such as willow trees and red maples, are now listed as threatened. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee species found only in the European continent and the single type of this biological genus in European nations, is now classified as severely threatened – the scientific category closest to extinction in the wild.
Butterflies that are only found on mountain peaks are especially at risk to climate change as they must ascend higher as their living spaces become warmer but eventually 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 (solely present in Europe) at risk of extinction.
In the Mediterranean area, species such as the severely threatened Karpathos grayling are threatened by extreme dry conditions and fires.
Meanwhile, in the Arctic region, global heating is leading to the tree line to advance northwards by tens of metres each year, with scrub invading bog and tundra. Higher temperatures also mean reindeer can no longer cross the frozen water to feed on Arctic meadows and keep them open. Eight types of butterflies are at risk of extinction in this area, including the fritillary of Freyja and the ringlet of the Arctic.
“The greatest habitat for all these pollinating insects is flower-rich grassland and that is disappearing very fast across the European continent because of all these elements,” remarked a lead coordinator for the butterfly assessment. “The encouraging aspect is that so many individuals are aware now and there’s a lot more understanding. Under the EU’s nature restoration regulation, all participating nations have to reverse the decline in pollinating species by 2030, and they are going to have to begin taking action. There are property owners who are involved. Let’s hope they can receive the incentives that will support them on their way.”
As per the coordinator, there is “low-hanging fruit” in terms of action for pollinating species which will not lower agricultural output – and may enhance it – such as agricultural producers creating flower-rich margins around their fields.
the EU’s environment commissioner, described the protection status of wild bees, butterflies and other pollinators as “dire”.
“Urgent and collective action is needed to address this threat. Along with member states, the European Commission has put in place an EU-wide tracking system for pollinators based on the European Union nature restoration legislation, which will aid in following our development. Now, we need to concentrate on implementation and collaboration with participating nations to protect our pollinating insects,” she said.
The publication of the assessments on bees and butterflies comes after the first Europe-wide assessment of hoverflies, another crucial pollinating insect category. Published in twenty-twenty-two, it disclosed that thirty-seven percent of all hoverfly types in European nations were threatened with extinction.
