The number of native bee varieties in Europe confronting extinction has increased twofold over the past decade, whereas the number of endangered butterfly species has nearly doubled.
This pressing issue for essential pollinators was revealed by scientific studies for the IUCN red list, which found that at least over 170 bee species out of nearly two thousand were facing extinction in Europe.
The total of butterfly types threatened with extinction in the European continent has risen from thirty-seven to sixty-five since the earlier research, carried out a decade and a half ago. One type, the large white of Madeira (Pieris wollastoni) has now been classified as extinct.
Apart from their aesthetic appeal and cultural importance, pollinating species like bees and butterfly species are crucial elements for our health, our food chains and our economies – supporting the fruits, vegetables and seeds that feed us,” said the IUCN’s director general. “The most recent European red list evaluations reveal serious challenges, with threats growing for butterfly types and crucial native bee types.”
The causes of the rapid recent declines are the persistent harm or degradation of habitats caused by farming intensification and deserted farmland, draining wetlands, excessive grazing by animals, and the use of fertilisers and pesticides including neonicotinoids. The fragmentation of environments suitable for pollinators significantly raises the risk of local extinctions.
Global heating is also shown to be a major threat: 52% of all at-risk butterflies in Europe are endangered by the climate crisis – about double the number as a previous decade.
Nearly nine out of ten of flowering plants in the European continent rely on insect pollination, as stated by the lead coordinator of the wild bee assessment. “Sadly, wild bee populations are in drastic decline and cannot be easily replaced by managed bee colonies,” he said. “If wild bees vanish, many wild plants might be at risk too – of which flower-rich meadows and beautiful orchid species are just a few examples.”
15 varieties of bumblebee species, which have an essential part in pollinating legumes like peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and fourteen varieties of cellophane bee species, recognized for aiding tree pollination such as willows and red maples, are now listed as threatened. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee species exclusive to the mainland and the sole species of this biological genus in European nations, is now assessed as critically at risk – the scientific category most akin to extinction in the wild.
Butterfly types that are exclusively located on mountain tops are especially at risk to global heating as they need to move uphill as their living spaces become warmer but ultimately run out of space. In southern Spain, the grayling of Nevada and the Andalusian anomalous blue are among more than 40% of European endemics (exclusive to Europe) at risk of extinction.
In the Mediterranean, species such as the critically endangered grayling of Karpathos are threatened by intense dry conditions and fires.
At the same time, in the Arctic region, global warming is leading to the timberline to move north by dozens of meters each year, with bushes taking over wetlands and tundra. Higher temperatures also mean caribou can no more cross the ice sheets to graze Arctic meadows and prevent them from overgrowing. Eight types of butterflies are facing extinction in this region, including the fritillary of Freyja and the Arctic ringlet.
“The largest environment for all these pollinating species is flower-rich grassland and that is disappearing very fast across European nations because of all these factors,” said Martin Warren. “The encouraging aspect is that so many individuals care now and there’s a lot more understanding. Under the EU’s nature restoration regulation, all member countries have to turn around the decrease in pollinating insects by twenty-thirty, and they are going to have to begin taking action. There are property owners who are involved. Let’s hope they can get the motivations that will assist them on their way.”
As stated by Martin Warren, there is “readily achievable actions” in terms of action for pollinating species which will not decrease crop yields – and may enhance it – such as agricultural producers creating margins rich in flowers around their fields.
the EU’s environment commissioner, portrayed the preservation condition of native bees, butterflies and additional pollinators as “dire”.
“Immediate and joint measures is required to address this risk. Along with member countries, the Commission of the European Union has implemented an European Union-wide observation system for pollinating insects based on the EU nature restoration law, which will assist in monitoring our development. Now, we need to concentrate on application and cooperation with member states to preserve our pollinating species,” she said.
The issuance of the assessments on bees and butterflies comes after the pioneering Europe-wide assessment of hoverflies, an additional essential pollinating insect category. Released in twenty-twenty-two, it disclosed that thirty-seven percent of all hoverfly types in Europe were threatened with extinction.
