The total of wild bee species in the European continent facing disappearance has increased twofold during the previous ten-year period, whereas the count of endangered butterfly types has close to doubled.
This critical situation for vital pollinating species was unveiled by scientific assessments for the red list of threatened species, which determined that at least one hundred seventy-two bee varieties out of 1,928 were facing extinction in European nations.
The count of butterfly types at risk of extinction in the European continent has risen from 37 to over sixty since the last study, conducted 14 years ago. A single species, the Madeiran large white (Pieris wollastoni) has now been classified as extinct.
In addition to their beauty and cultural value, pollinating insects like bees and butterflies are crucial elements for our physical condition, our food chains and our economic systems – maintaining the fruits, vegetables and seeds that nourish us,” commented the IUCN’s director general. “The latest European red list assessments reveal major obstacles, with threats mounting for butterflies and crucial wild bee types.”
The reasons of the swift recent drops are the continuing damage or destruction of habitats caused by agricultural intensification and deserted farmland, draining of wetlands, livestock overgrazing, and the use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides including neonicotinoid pesticides. The breaking up of environments suitable for pollinators significantly raises the danger of local extinctions.
Climate change is also shown to be a major threat: Fifty-two percent of all threatened butterfly types in European nations are threatened by the climate crisis – about twice as many as a decade ago.
Up to ninety percent of plants that flower in Europe rely on pollination by animals, according to the lead coordinator of the wild bee assessment. “Sadly, non-managed bee groups are in severe drop and cannot readily be substituted by domesticated hives,” he said. “If native bees die out, many non-cultivated plants might be at risk too – of which flower-rich meadows and beautiful orchid species are just a handful of illustrations.”
Fifteen types of bumblebee types, which have an essential part in pollinating legumes like peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and 14 types of cellophane bee species, known for fertilizing trees such as willows and red maples, are now classified as threatened. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee found only in the continent and the sole species of this genus in European nations, is now classified as severely threatened – the scientific category closest to dying out in natural habitats.
Butterflies that are exclusively located on mountain tops are highly susceptible to climate change as they must ascend higher as their environments become warmer but eventually have no room left. In Spain’s southern region, the Nevada grayling butterfly and the Andalusian anomalous blue butterfly are among above 40 percent of European endemics (only found in Europe) facing extinction.
In the Mediterranean area, types such as the critically endangered grayling of Karpathos are threatened by extreme drought and wildfires.
At the same time, in the Arctic region, global heating is leading to the timberline to move north by many meters each year, with bushes encroaching on bog and tundra. Warmer conditions also mean caribou can no longer cross the ice sheets to browse 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 largest environment for all these pollinating species is bloom-filled grassy areas and that is disappearing very fast in Europe because of all these reasons,” stated a lead coordinator for the butterfly assessment. “The positive thing is that so many citizens care now and there’s a lot more consciousness. Under the EU nature restoration legislation, all member countries have to halt the drop in pollinators by 2030, and they are going to have to initiate measures. There are property owners who are involved. Let’s hope they can obtain the motivations that will support them on their way.”
As stated by the coordinator, there is “easy opportunities” in terms of steps for pollinating species which will not decrease agricultural output – and may enhance it – such as farmers developing 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. Together with member states, the EU Commission has established an EU-wide monitoring system for pollinating species based on the European Union nature restoration legislation, which will assist in monitoring our advancement. Now, we need to prioritize implementation and partnership with participating nations to safeguard our pollinators,” she said.
The issuance of the evaluations of bees along with butterflies is subsequent to the pioneering EU-wide assessment of hoverflies, an additional crucial pollinator group. Released in twenty-twenty-two, it disclosed that 37% of all hoverfly types in the European continent were facing extinction.
