The total of non-managed bee varieties in Europe facing extinction has over doubled during the previous ten-year period, whereas the count of threatened butterfly has nearly doubled.
This dire scenario for crucial pollinating insects was disclosed by research studies for the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) red list, which determined that at least 172 bee species out of 1,928 were facing extinction in Europe.
The total of butterfly types facing extinction in the European continent has increased from over thirty-five to sixty-five since the earlier research, conducted a decade and a half ago. One type, the Madeiran large white (Pieris wollastoni) has now been declared extinct.
In addition to their visual charm and cultural significance, pollinating insects like bees and butterflies are lifelines for our physical condition, our food systems and our economies – sustaining the produce, vegetables and seeds that nourish us,” said Grethel Aguilar. “The most recent assessments of the European red list reveal significant difficulties, with risks increasing for butterflies and essential wild bee varieties.”
The causes of the quick recent decreases are the ongoing harm or degradation of natural habitats caused by agricultural intensification and deserted farmland, draining wetlands, livestock overgrazing, and the use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides including neonicotinoids. The fragmentation of pollinator-friendly habitat substantially boosts the threat of disappearances in specific areas.
Global heating is also shown to be a significant danger: Over half of all at-risk butterfly species in the European continent are imperilled by the climate change crisis – about double the number as a ten years ago.
As many as ninety percent of plants that flower in Europe depend on insect pollination, as stated by Dr Denis Michez. “Regrettably, native bee groups are in sharp decrease and cannot be easily replaced by managed colonies,” he said. “If wild bees disappear, many native plants might be at risk too – of which flower-rich meadows and lovely orchid types are just a few examples.”
Fifteen types of bumblebee species, which play a crucial role in aiding the pollination of legumes like peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and 14 species of cellophane bee types, known for pollinating trees such as willows and red maples, are now categorized as at-risk. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee species unique to the European continent and the only species of this biological genus in Europe, is now classified as critically endangered – the scientific classification nearest to dying out in natural habitats.
Butterfly species that are exclusively located on mountain tops are especially at risk to climate change as they have to climb upward as their environments become more heated but eventually exhaust available space. In Spain’s southern region, the Nevada grayling butterfly and the anomalous blue of Andalusia are among more than 40% of species endemic to Europe (exclusive to Europe) facing extinction.
In the Mediterranean area, types such as the highly at-risk Karpathos grayling are endangered by intense dry conditions and fires.
Meanwhile, in the Arctic region, global heating is causing the timberline to advance northwards by tens of metres each year, with bushes invading bog and tundra. Warmer conditions also mean Arctic deer can not anymore cross the ice sheets to graze Arctic grasslands and prevent them from overgrowing. Eight types of butterflies are facing extinction in this region, including Freyja’s fritillary butterfly and the ringlet of the Arctic.
“The greatest living space for all these pollinating insects is flower-rich grassland and that is declining quickly throughout Europe because of all these reasons,” remarked one of the lead coordinators of the butterflies assessment. “The good news is that so many citizens care 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 insects by the year 2030, and they are going to have to begin taking action. There are property owners who are engaged. It is hoped they can obtain the encouragements that will help them on their way.”
As per the coordinator, there is “readily achievable actions” in terms of steps for pollinating species which will not lower crop yields – and may enhance it – such as agricultural producers establishing flower-rich margins around their farmland.
the EU’s environment commissioner, described the preservation condition of non-managed bees, butterfly species and other pollinating insects as “critical”.
“Immediate and joint measures is required to address this threat. Along with member states, the EU Commission has implemented an Europe-wide observation system for pollinating species based on the European Union nature restoration legislation, which will help to track our progress. Now, we need to focus on implementation and collaboration with participating nations to protect our pollinating species,” she said.
The release of the bee and butterfly assessments is subsequent to the pioneering Europe-wide assessment of hoverflies, another vital pollinator group. Published in twenty-twenty-two, it showed that 37% of all hoverfly varieties in European nations were facing extinction.
