The total of native bee varieties in European nations confronting disappearance has increased twofold during the previous ten-year period, and the count of threatened butterfly has close to doubled.
This critical situation for essential pollinating species was disclosed by scientific assessments for the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) red list, which determined that at least 172 bee types out of nearly two thousand were threatened with extinction in Europe.
The count of butterfly types facing extinction in European nations has risen from thirty-seven to over sixty since the previous assessment, carried out over a decade past. A single species, the Madeiran large white (Pieris wollastoni) has now been classified as extinct.
In addition to their aesthetic appeal and cultural value, pollinators like bees and butterfly species are crucial elements for our physical condition, our food supplies and our economic systems – maintaining the fruits, vegetables and seeds that feed us,” stated the IUCN director general. “The newest European red list evaluations reveal significant difficulties, with risks mounting for butterfly types and vital native bee varieties.”
The causes of the swift recent drops are the continuing harm or degradation of natural habitats caused by farming intensification and abandoned land, draining of wetlands, overgrazing by livestock, and the use of pesticides and fertilisers including neonicotinoids. The division of pollinator-friendly habitat greatly increases the danger of extinctions at local level.
Climate change is also shown to be a major threat: Over half of all threatened butterfly types in European nations are threatened by the climate emergency – roughly double the number as a decade ago.
As many as 90% of flowering plants in Europe require insect pollination, as stated by Dr Denis Michez. “Sadly, non-managed bee colonies are in sharp decrease and cannot readily be substituted by domesticated hives,” he said. “If native bees die out, many non-cultivated plants might be in danger as well – of which meadows rich in flowers and beautiful orchid species are just a couple of instances.”
Fifteen species of bumblebees, which play a crucial role in pollinating crops such as peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and 14 types of cellophane bees, recognized for pollinating trees such as willows and red maples, are now listed as threatened. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee exclusive to the continent and the single type of this biological genus in Europe, is now assessed as critically endangered – the scientific classification closest to dying out in natural habitats.
Butterfly species that are only found on mountain peaks are especially at risk to climate change as they must ascend higher as their habitats become more heated but in the end run out of space. In Spain’s southern region, the Nevada grayling and the anomalous blue of Andalusia are among more than 40% of species endemic to Europe (solely present in Europe) at risk of extinction.
In the Mediterranean region, species such as the highly at-risk Karpathos grayling butterfly are threatened by intense dry conditions and fires.
In the meantime, in the Far North, global warming is resulting in the forest boundary to advance northwards by dozens of meters each year, with bushes taking over marsh and tundra. Higher temperatures also mean reindeer can no more cross the frozen water to browse Arctic meadows and keep them open. 8 butterfly varieties are facing extinction in this region, including Freyja’s fritillary and the ringlet of the Arctic.
“The largest environment for all these pollinating species is grassland rich in flowers and that is vanishing rapidly throughout Europe because of all these reasons,” said one of the lead coordinators of the butterflies assessment. “The good news is that so many citizens are concerned now and there’s a lot more consciousness. Under the European Union nature restoration law, all member countries have to turn around the decline in pollinating species by twenty-thirty, and they are going to have to start doing something. There are landowners who are interested. We hope they can obtain the encouragements that will support them on their way.”
According to the coordinator, there is “easy opportunities” in terms of action for pollinators which will not lower agricultural output – and might boost it – such as farmers developing flower-rich margins around their farmland.
EU commissioner for environment, portrayed the conservation status of native bees, butterflies and additional pollinators as “severe”.
“Urgent and collective action is needed to tackle this threat. Together with member countries, the Commission of the European Union has implemented an Europe-wide tracking system for pollinators based on the EU nature restoration regulation, which will help to track our progress. Now, we need to concentrate on execution and collaboration with participating nations to protect our pollinating species,” she said.
The publication of the bee and butterfly assessments follows the initial European-wide study on hoverflies, a further crucial pollinating insect category. Issued in 2022, it showed that over one-third of all hoverfly species in Europe were facing extinction.
