The total of wild bee species in the European continent confronting extinction has over doubled in the last ten years, and the total of endangered butterfly types has nearly doubled.
This critical situation for crucial pollinators was unveiled by scientific studies for the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) red list, which found that at least 172 bee types out of 1,928 were at risk of extinction in Europe.
The total of butterfly types threatened with extinction in Europe has risen from thirty-seven to 65 since the last study, performed over a decade past. A single species, the Madeiran large white butterfly (Pieris wollastoni) has now been classified as extinct.
Apart from their beauty and cultural value, pollinating insects like bees along with butterflies are crucial elements for our health, our food systems and our economic systems – sustaining the fruits, veggies and seeds that sustain us,” commented the IUCN director general. “The newest European red list assessments reveal serious challenges, with risks mounting for butterfly types and crucial non-managed bee species.”
The factors of the quick recent decreases are the ongoing damage or destruction of habitats caused by farming intensification and deserted farmland, draining of wetlands, livestock overgrazing, and the utilization of fertilisers and pesticides including neonicotinoid pesticides. The fragmentation of habitat friendly to pollinators greatly increases the threat of disappearances in specific areas.
Global warming is also shown to be a major threat: Over half of all endangered butterfly types in Europe are threatened by the climate change crisis – about double the number as a previous decade.
Up to ninety percent of plants that flower in the European continent rely on insect pollination, as per the lead coordinator of the wild bee assessment. “Unfortunately, non-managed bee colonies are in sharp decrease and are not easily replaceable by domesticated hives,” he said. “If native bees die out, many native plants might be threatened too – of which meadows rich in flowers and attractive orchid varieties are just a handful of illustrations.”
Fifteen types of bumblebee species, which have an essential part in fertilizing crops such as peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and fourteen varieties of cellophane bee species, known for aiding tree pollination such as willows and red maples, are now listed as threatened. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee species found only in the mainland and the single type of this biological genus in the European continent, is now classified as critically endangered – the scientific classification nearest to extinction in the wild.
Butterfly species that are solely present on mountain peaks are highly susceptible to climate change as they must ascend higher as their habitats become warmer but in the end have no room left. In the southern part of Spain, the grayling of Nevada and the Andalusian anomalous blue are among more than 40% of European endemics (solely present in Europe) facing extinction.
In the Mediterranean, species such as the critically endangered Karpathos grayling butterfly are threatened by intense drought and wildfires.
Meanwhile, in the Far North, global warming is causing the tree line to move north by dozens of meters each year, with underbrush invading wetlands and tundra. Higher temperatures also mean Arctic deer can no more cross the ice sheets to feed on Arctic meadows and keep them open. Eight types of butterflies are at risk of extinction in this region, including the fritillary of Freyja and the ringlet of the Arctic.
“The greatest environment for all these pollinating insects is bloom-filled grassy areas and that is declining quickly across European nations because of all these reasons,” 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 awareness. 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 begin taking action. There are land holders who are engaged. We hope they can obtain the encouragements that will assist them on their way.”
As per Martin Warren, there is “low-hanging fruit” in terms of action for pollinating species which will not decrease crop yields – and could improve it – such as growers developing margins rich in flowers around their fields.
EU commissioner for environment, portrayed the protection status of native bees, butterflies and additional pollinators as “severe”.
“Prompt and unified steps is necessary to tackle this danger. In collaboration with participating nations, the Commission of the European Union has implemented an European Union-wide tracking system for pollinating insects based on the European Union nature restoration legislation, which will assist in monitoring our development. Now, we need to prioritize implementation and partnership with participating nations to protect our pollinating insects,” she said.
The issuance of the assessments on bees and butterflies comes after the first Europe-wide study on hoverflies, an additional crucial pollinator group. Published in 2022, it showed that 37% of all hoverfly types in Europe were at risk of extinction.
