The number of non-managed bee varieties in the European continent confronting extinction has more than doubled in the last ten years, while the number of endangered butterfly has close to doubled.
This pressing issue for essential pollinators was revealed by scientific studies for the red list of threatened species, which established that at least over 170 bee types out of 1,928 were facing extinction in European nations.
The number of butterfly species threatened with extinction in the European continent has increased from over thirty-five to over sixty since the last study, conducted over a decade past. One type, the Madeiran large white (Pieris wollastoni) has now been classified as extinct.
“Beyond their aesthetic appeal and cultural significance, pollinating species like bees and butterflies are essential supports for our health, our food systems and our economic systems – supporting the fruits, veggies and seeds that sustain us,” said the IUCN director general. “The latest assessments of the European red list reveal serious challenges, with risks increasing for butterfly types and crucial native bee varieties.”
The reasons of the rapid recent declines are the ongoing damage or destruction of habitats caused by intensive agriculture and abandoned land, draining of wetlands, excessive grazing by animals, and the use of fertilisers and pesticides including neonicotinoids. The breaking up of environments suitable for pollinators greatly increases the threat of local extinctions.
Climate change is also demonstrated to be a primary risk: 52% of all threatened butterflies in the European continent are endangered by the climate emergency – approximately twofold the amount as a ten years ago.
Up to nine out of ten of plants that flower in Europe require insect pollination, as per the wild bee assessment’s lead coordinator. “Unfortunately, non-managed bee colonies are in drastic decline and cannot be easily replaced by managed bee colonies,” he said. “If native bees die out, many native plants might be threatened too – of which flower-rich meadows and attractive orchid varieties are just a handful of illustrations.”
15 varieties of bumblebee types, which play a crucial role in fertilizing peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and 14 species of cellophane bees, known for aiding tree pollination such as willows and red maples, are now categorized as at-risk. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee type exclusive to the European continent and the single type of this genus group in Europe, is now classified as severely threatened – the research category nearest to disappearance in the wild.
Butterfly types that are exclusively located on mountain peaks are particularly vulnerable to climate change as they have to climb upward as their habitats become more heated but eventually have no room left. In Spain’s southern region, the grayling of Nevada and the Andalusian anomalous blue butterfly are among over forty percent of species endemic to Europe (exclusive to Europe) facing extinction.
In the Mediterranean area, varieties such as the highly at-risk Karpathos grayling are threatened by extreme wildfires and drought.
In the meantime, in the Far North, global heating is causing the timberline to move north by tens of metres each year, with bushes invading bog and tundra. Warmer conditions also mean caribou can not anymore cross the ice to feed on northern grasslands and keep them open. Eight butterfly species are at risk of extinction in this region, including Freyja’s fritillary and the Arctic ringlet.
“The largest habitat for all these pollinating species is grassland rich in flowers and that is vanishing rapidly throughout the European continent because of all these reasons,” remarked a lead coordinator for the butterfly assessment. “The positive thing is that so many individuals are concerned now and there’s a lot more awareness. Under the European Union nature restoration law, all member states have to halt the decrease in pollinators by the year 2030, and they are going to have to begin taking action. There are land holders who are involved. It is hoped they can obtain the encouragements that will support them on their way.”
According to the coordinator, there is “readily achievable actions” in terms of action for pollinators which will not lower crop yields – and might boost it – such as agricultural producers developing flower-rich margins around their cultivated areas.
the EU’s environment commissioner, characterized the conservation status of native bees, butterflies and additional pollinators as “severe”.
“Immediate and joint measures is required to address this danger. In collaboration with participating nations, the Commission of the European Union has implemented an EU-wide observation system for pollinators based on the EU nature restoration law, which will help to track our advancement. Now, we need to prioritize application and partnership with member countries to protect our pollinating species,” she said.
The publication of the bee and butterfly assessments comes after the pioneering Europe-wide assessment of hoverflies, an additional crucial pollinator group. Published in 2022, it showed that thirty-seven percent of all hoverfly varieties in European nations were at risk of extinction.
