The count of native bee varieties in Europe confronting disappearance has more than doubled during the previous ten-year period, and the total of endangered butterfly has close to doubled.
This critical situation for essential pollinators was disclosed by scientific assessments for the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) red list, which determined that at least one hundred seventy-two bee varieties out of over 1900 were at risk of extinction in the European continent.
The total of butterfly species facing extinction in Europe has grown from 37 to over sixty since the earlier research, performed a decade and a half ago. One type, the Madeiran large white butterfly (Pieris wollastoni) has now been confirmed extinct.
Apart from their visual charm and cultural value, pollinators like bees and butterfly species are essential supports for our physical condition, our food supplies and our financial structures – supporting the fruits, veggies and seeds that nourish us,” said the IUCN director general. “The most recent European red list assessments reveal serious challenges, with risks mounting for butterfly species and vital native bee varieties.”
The causes of the quick recent decreases are the continuing damage or destruction of natural habitats caused by intensive agriculture and abandoned land, draining wetlands, overgrazing by livestock, and the application of pesticides and fertilisers including neonicotinoids. The breaking up of pollinator-friendly habitat greatly increases the risk of extinctions at local level.
Climate change is also shown to be a major threat: Over half of all at-risk butterflies in Europe are threatened by the climate crisis – approximately twice as many as a previous decade.
Up to 90% of blooming plants in Europe depend on insect pollination, as stated by Dr Denis Michez. “Unfortunately, native bee populations are in drastic decline and are not easily replaceable by managed bee colonies,” he said. “If non-managed bees disappear, many non-cultivated plants might be at risk too – of which bloom-filled grasslands and lovely orchid types are just a handful of illustrations.”
Fifteen species of bumblebee types, which perform a vital function in aiding the pollination of legumes like peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and 14 types of cellophane bee types, famous for pollinating trees such as willows along with red maples, are now listed as threatened. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee type exclusive to the European continent and the single type of this biological genus in Europe, is now evaluated as critically at risk – the scientific classification most akin to extinction in the wild.
Butterflies that are solely present on mountain peaks are highly susceptible to global warming as they need to move uphill as their living spaces become warmer but ultimately exhaust available space. In the southern part of Spain, the grayling of Nevada and the Andalusian anomalous blue butterfly are among more than 40% of European endemics (only found in Europe) facing extinction.
In the Mediterranean region, types such as the critically endangered Karpathos grayling butterfly are imperilled by extreme drought and wildfires.
At the same time, in the Arctic Circle, climate change is resulting in the timberline to shift northward by tens of metres each year, with underbrush invading bog and tundra. Warmer conditions also mean Arctic deer can no more cross the ice sheets to graze Arctic meadows and keep them open. Eight butterfly species are facing extinction in this zone, including Freyja’s fritillary butterfly and the Arctic ringlet butterfly.
“The biggest environment for all these pollinating species is grassland rich in flowers and that is declining quickly across Europe because of all these reasons,” remarked one of the lead coordinators of the butterflies assessment. “The positive thing is that so many individuals care now and there’s a lot more consciousness. Under the EU nature restoration legislation, all participating nations have to turn around the decline in pollinating species by 2030, and they are going to have to begin taking action. There are landowners who are interested. Let’s hope they can get the incentives that will support them on their way.”
As per the coordinator, there is “easy opportunities” in terms of steps for pollinators which won’t reduce crop yields – and could improve it – such as agricultural producers establishing flower-rich margins around their cultivated areas.
Jessika Roswall, characterized the preservation condition of non-managed bees, butterfly species and other pollinating insects as “severe”.
“Urgent and collective action is required to confront this risk. Together with member states, the EU Commission has established an Europe-wide observation system for pollinating insects based on the European Union nature restoration legislation, which will assist in monitoring our advancement. Now, we need to concentrate on implementation and cooperation with member states to preserve our pollinators,” she said.
The publication of the bee and butterfly assessments is subsequent to the first Europe-wide study on hoverflies, a further vital pollinating insect category. Issued in 2022, it showed that thirty-seven percent of all hoverfly types in Europe were at risk of extinction.
