The number of wild bee species in Europe experiencing disappearance has over doubled over the past decade, whereas the number of at-risk butterfly species has close to doubled.
This dire scenario for essential pollinating insects was disclosed by research studies for the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) red list, which determined that at least over 170 bee species out of nearly two thousand were facing extinction in the European continent.
The number of butterfly species at risk of extinction in the European continent has increased from 37 to 65 since the previous assessment, carried out 14 years ago. One type, the large white of Madeira (Pieris wollastoni) has now been confirmed extinct.
Apart from their beauty and cultural significance, pollinators like bees along with butterflies are lifelines for our well-being, our food systems and our economic systems – sustaining the produce, vegetables and seeds that nourish us,” stated Grethel Aguilar. “The most recent European red list evaluations reveal serious challenges, with threats growing for butterfly species and vital wild bee varieties.”
The reasons of the rapid recent declines are the persistent harm or degradation of natural habitats caused by intensive agriculture and land abandonment, draining wetlands, livestock overgrazing, and the utilization of pesticides and fertilisers including neonicotinoids. The division of pollinator-friendly habitat significantly raises the threat of extinctions at local level.
Climate change is also revealed to be a significant danger: Over half of all endangered butterfly types in the European continent are imperilled by the climate change crisis – approximately twofold the amount as a decade ago.
As many as 90% of plants that flower in Europe require pollination by animals, as per the lead coordinator of the wild bee assessment. “Unfortunately, wild bee populations are in sharp decrease and are not easily replaceable by managed colonies,” he said. “If non-managed bees vanish, many non-cultivated plants might be at risk too – of which flower-rich meadows and lovely orchid types are just a handful of illustrations.”
15 varieties of bumblebees, which perform a vital function in fertilizing legumes like peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and 14 types of cellophane bees, famous for aiding tree pollination such as willow trees and red maples, are now categorized as at-risk. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee species unique to the continent and the single type of this biological genus in European nations, is now assessed as critically at risk – the scientific classification nearest to dying out in natural habitats.
Butterflies that are only found on mountain tops are highly susceptible to climate change as they have to climb upward as their environments become more heated but in the end have no room left. In southern Spain, the Nevada grayling butterfly and the Andalusian anomalous blue butterfly are among above 40 percent of types unique to Europe (only found in Europe) threatened with extinction.
In the Mediterranean area, types such as the severely threatened Karpathos grayling butterfly are endangered by extreme dry conditions and fires.
In the meantime, in the Arctic region, global warming is causing the tree line to shift northward by tens of metres each year, with bushes invading bog and tundra. Hotter climates also mean Arctic deer can no more cross the frozen water to graze Arctic grasslands and keep them open. Eight types of butterflies are at risk of extinction in this region, including Freyja’s fritillary butterfly and the Arctic ringlet butterfly.
“The largest habitat for all these pollinators is grassland rich in flowers and that is vanishing rapidly in the European continent because of all these factors,” stated one of the lead coordinators of the butterflies assessment. “The positive thing is that so many individuals are concerned now and there’s a lot more understanding. Under the European Union nature restoration law, all member countries have to reverse the decline in pollinators by 2030, and they are going to have to initiate measures. There are landowners who are involved. Let’s hope they can get the encouragements that will help them on their way.”
As per Warren, there is “easy opportunities” in terms of measures for pollinating insects which will not decrease agricultural output – and may enhance it – such as agricultural producers establishing flower-rich margins around their fields.
the EU’s environment commissioner, portrayed the conservation status of native bees, butterflies and additional pollinators as “critical”.
“Urgent and collective action is required to address this risk. Along with participating nations, the European Commission has implemented an European Union-wide tracking system for pollinating species based on the European Union nature restoration legislation, which will aid in following our advancement. Now, we need to concentrate on implementation and cooperation with member states to safeguard our pollinating species,” she said.
The publication of the bee and butterfly assessments follows the pioneering Europe-wide assessment of hoverflies, another crucial group of pollinators. Released in 2022, it revealed that 37% of all hoverfly species in Europe were threatened with extinction.
