The number of wild bee species in European nations experiencing extinction has more than doubled during the previous ten-year period, whereas the count of at-risk butterfly species has nearly doubled.
This critical situation for essential pollinating insects was revealed by research studies for the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) red list, which found that at least over 170 bee species out of over 1900 were at risk of extinction in the European continent.
The total of butterfly species threatened with extinction in Europe has grown from over thirty-five to over sixty since the previous assessment, conducted 14 years ago. One species, the Madeiran large white (Pieris wollastoni) has now been confirmed extinct.
Apart from their visual charm and cultural importance, pollinators like bees and butterfly species are essential supports for our physical condition, our food supplies and our economic systems – maintaining the fruits, vegetables and seeds that sustain us,” stated the IUCN director general. “The newest European red list evaluations reveal major obstacles, with risks mounting for butterfly species and crucial non-managed bee species.”
The causes of the quick recent decreases are the ongoing damage or destruction of habitats caused by agricultural intensification and deserted farmland, wetland drainage, excessive grazing by animals, and the utilization of pesticides and fertilisers including neonicotinoid pesticides. The breaking up of habitat friendly to pollinators significantly raises the risk of extinctions at local level.
Global warming is also revealed to be a significant danger: Over half of all at-risk butterfly types in Europe are threatened by the climate crisis – about twofold the amount as a decade ago.
Nearly 90% of flowering plants in the European continent rely on animal pollination, as stated by Dr Denis Michez. “Sadly, non-managed bee populations are in sharp decrease and cannot readily be substituted by domesticated hives,” he said. “If native bees vanish, many native plants might be in danger as well – of which bloom-filled grasslands and beautiful orchid species are just a couple of instances.”
Fifteen species of bumblebee species, which play a crucial role in pollinating legumes like peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and fourteen varieties of cellophane bee types, famous for pollinating trees such as willows along with red maples, are now classified as threatened. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee species found only in the continent and the sole species of this biological genus in European nations, is now classified as critically at risk – the research category most akin to dying out in natural habitats.
Butterfly species that are exclusively located on high-altitude areas are particularly vulnerable to climate change as they must ascend higher as their habitats become warmer but ultimately have no room left. In the southern part of Spain, the Nevada grayling butterfly and the Andalusian anomalous blue are among more than 40% of European endemics (solely present in Europe) threatened with extinction.
In the Mediterranean area, types such as the highly at-risk grayling of Karpathos are imperilled by intense dry conditions and fires.
Meanwhile, in the Arctic Circle, climate change is causing the forest boundary to advance northwards by many meters each year, with bushes taking over bog and tundra. Warmer conditions also mean caribou can not anymore cross the ice to graze Arctic grasslands and prevent them from overgrowing. 8 butterfly varieties are facing extinction in this region, including Freyja’s fritillary and the Arctic ringlet butterfly.
“The biggest environment for all these pollinating insects is grassland rich in flowers and that is disappearing very fast across Europe because of all these reasons,” said a lead coordinator for the butterfly assessment. “The good news is that so many people are aware now and there’s a lot more understanding. Under the EU’s nature restoration regulation, all member states have to turn around the drop in pollinating species by 2030, and they are going to have to begin taking action. There are land holders who are interested. It is hoped they can obtain the incentives that will support them on their way.”
As per the coordinator, there is “low-hanging fruit” in terms of steps for pollinators which will not decrease food production – and might boost it – such as agricultural producers creating bloom-filled edges around their fields.
the EU’s environment commissioner, portrayed the conservation status of non-managed bees, butterfly species and other pollinating insects as “dire”.
“Prompt and unified steps is needed to confront this risk. In collaboration with member countries, the Commission of the European Union has established an European Union-wide observation system for pollinating species based on the European Union nature restoration legislation, which will help to track our advancement. Now, we need to concentrate on implementation and cooperation with participating nations to preserve our pollinating species,” she said.
The issuance of the evaluations of bees along with butterflies follows the first EU-wide assessment of hoverflies, an additional essential pollinating insect category. Published in twenty-twenty-two, it revealed that 37% of all hoverfly species in the European continent were at risk of extinction.
