The number of wild bee types in Europe facing dying out has over doubled over the past decade, and the total of at-risk butterfly types has almost doubled.
This critical situation for crucial pollinating species was revealed by research studies for the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) red list, which found that at least 172 bee varieties out of 1,928 were threatened with extinction in the European continent.
The count of butterflies threatened with extinction in European nations has grown from 37 to 65 since the earlier research, conducted 14 years ago. One species, the Madeiran large white (Pieris wollastoni) has now been classified as extinct.
“Beyond their visual charm and cultural significance, pollinators like bees along with butterflies are lifelines for our health, our food chains and our economies – sustaining the produce, vegetables and seeds that sustain us,” said the IUCN’s director general. “The most recent European red list assessments reveal significant difficulties, with dangers mounting for butterflies and vital native bee types.”
The causes of the swift recent drops are the persistent harm or degradation of living environments caused by intensive agriculture and abandoned land, draining wetlands, livestock overgrazing, and the use of fertilisers and pesticides including neonicotinoid pesticides. The breaking up of habitat friendly to pollinators significantly raises the risk of local extinctions.
Global warming is also demonstrated to be a significant danger: Fifty-two percent of all at-risk butterfly species in European nations are threatened by the climate emergency – roughly twofold the amount as a decade ago.
Nearly ninety percent of plants that flower in European nations rely on animal pollination, as per Dr Denis Michez. “Regrettably, non-managed bee groups are in drastic decline and cannot readily be substituted by managed bee colonies,” he said. “If native bees disappear, many wild plants might be in danger as well – of which meadows rich in flowers and beautiful orchid species are just a few examples.”
Fifteen types of bumblebees, which perform a vital function in pollinating peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and 14 types of cellophane bee species, recognized for fertilizing trees such as willow trees and red maples, are now listed as threatened. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee type found only in the continent and the only species of this genus in Europe, is now classified as critically at risk – the research category most akin to extinction in the wild.
Butterfly species that are solely present on mountain peaks are particularly vulnerable to climate change as they need to move uphill as their living spaces become warmer but ultimately run out of space. In the southern part of Spain, the Nevada grayling and the Andalusian anomalous blue are among above 40 percent of species endemic to Europe (solely present in Europe) threatened with extinction.
In the Mediterranean, species such as the severely threatened Karpathos grayling butterfly are imperilled by severe drought and wildfires.
In the meantime, in the Arctic Circle, global heating is leading to the tree line to move north by many meters each year, with scrub encroaching on wetlands and tundra. Hotter climates also mean caribou can no longer cross the ice to graze Arctic meadows and keep them open. Eight types of butterflies are at risk of extinction in this region, including Freyja’s fritillary and the Arctic ringlet.
“The largest environment for all these pollinators is grassland rich in flowers and that is declining quickly throughout European nations because of all these factors,” stated one of the lead coordinators of the butterflies assessment. “The encouraging aspect is that so many individuals are aware now and there’s a lot more consciousness. Under the European Union nature restoration law, all member states have to halt the decrease in pollinators by 2030, and they are going to have to start doing something. There are property owners who are engaged. We hope they can get the incentives that will help them on their way.”
According to Warren, there is “easy opportunities” in terms of measures for pollinating species which will not lower crop yields – and might boost it – such as growers creating flower-rich margins around their cultivated areas.
Jessika Roswall, portrayed the protection status of native bees, butterflies and additional pollinators as “critical”.
“Prompt and unified steps is required to address this threat. Together with member countries, the Commission of the European Union has put in place an Europe-wide tracking system for pollinating insects based on the EU nature restoration regulation, which will aid in following our progress. Now, we need to prioritize implementation and partnership with member countries to preserve our pollinating species,” she said.
The release of the bee and butterfly assessments comes after the initial Europe-wide assessment of hoverflies, another vital pollinating insect category. Released in 2022, it revealed that over one-third of all hoverfly varieties in European nations were threatened with extinction.
