The number of wild bee varieties in the European continent confronting dying out has increased twofold over the past decade, while the number of endangered butterfly types has almost doubled.
This dire scenario for crucial pollinating species was disclosed by scientific studies for the 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 Europe has increased from over thirty-five to 65 since the earlier research, carried out over a decade past. One species, the Madeiran large white (Pieris wollastoni) has now been confirmed extinct.
In addition to their beauty and cultural value, pollinating insects like bees and butterfly species are essential supports for our well-being, our food chains and our financial structures – sustaining the fruits, vegetables and seeds that feed us,” stated Grethel Aguilar. “The most recent assessments of the European red list reveal major obstacles, with threats growing for butterfly species and crucial native bee species.”
The causes of the quick recent decreases are the persistent damage or destruction of living environments caused by farming intensification and land abandonment, draining of wetlands, excessive grazing by animals, and the utilization of chemical fertilisers and pesticides including neonicotinoid pesticides. The breaking up of pollinator-friendly habitat greatly increases the danger of extinctions at local level.
Climate change is also demonstrated to be a significant danger: 52% of all threatened butterflies in the European continent are imperilled by the climate change crisis – approximately twofold the amount as a decade ago.
Up to 90% of flowering plants in Europe depend on insect pollination, as per the wild bee assessment’s lead coordinator. “Unfortunately, wild bee colonies are in severe drop and cannot be easily replaced by managed colonies,” he said. “If non-managed bees disappear, many native plants might be in danger as well – of which meadows rich in flowers and lovely orchid types are just a few examples.”
15 varieties of bumblebee types, which play a crucial role in fertilizing crops such as peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and fourteen varieties of cellophane bee types, recognized for fertilizing trees such as willow trees and red maples, are now classified as threatened. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee type unique to the mainland and the sole species of this genus group in European nations, is now classified as severely threatened – the scientific category most akin to extinction in the wild.
Butterfly species that are only found on mountain tops are highly susceptible to global heating as they need to move uphill as their environments become warmer but eventually run out of space. In southern Spain, the Nevada grayling and the anomalous blue of Andalusia are among above 40 percent of types unique to Europe (exclusive to Europe) at risk of extinction.
In the Mediterranean region, varieties such as the highly at-risk grayling of Karpathos are endangered by intense wildfires and drought.
At the same time, in the Arctic Circle, global heating is resulting in the timberline to shift northward by tens of metres each year, with underbrush taking over bog and tundra. Warmer conditions also mean Arctic deer can not anymore cross the ice sheets to feed on Arctic grasslands and prevent them from overgrowing. Eight types of butterflies are at risk of extinction in this zone, including Freyja’s fritillary and the Arctic ringlet butterfly.
“The greatest environment for all these pollinators is grassland rich in flowers and that is declining quickly in Europe because of all these elements,” stated a lead coordinator for the butterfly assessment. “The good news is that so many people are aware now and there’s a lot more awareness. Under the EU’s nature restoration regulation, all member states have to turn around the decline in pollinators by 2030, and they are going to have to begin taking action. There are land holders who are engaged. It is hoped they can obtain the motivations that will support them on their way.”
As per Warren, there is “easy opportunities” in terms of action for pollinators which won’t reduce crop yields – and might boost it – such as agricultural producers developing flower-rich margins around their farmland.
Jessika Roswall, described the preservation condition of wild bees, butterflies and other pollinators as “critical”.
“Urgent and collective action is needed to confront this threat. Along with member states, the European Commission has implemented an EU-wide tracking system for pollinating species based on the EU nature restoration regulation, which will aid in following our advancement. Now, we need to focus on execution and collaboration with member states to preserve our pollinators,” she said.
The publication of the assessments on bees and butterflies is subsequent to the pioneering European-wide evaluation of hoverflies, an additional essential pollinating insect category. Published in 2022, it showed that 37% of all hoverfly varieties in the European continent were facing extinction.
