The count of non-managed bee types in European nations facing extinction has more than doubled over the past decade, whereas the count of at-risk butterfly species has almost doubled.
This dire scenario for crucial pollinators was unveiled by scientific studies for the IUCN red list, which determined that at least 172 bee species out of 1,928 were at risk of extinction in Europe.
The number of butterfly species facing extinction in European nations has risen from 37 to 65 since the earlier research, carried out 14 years ago. One species, the large white of Madeira (Pieris wollastoni) has now been declared extinct.
Apart from their beauty and cultural importance, pollinators like bees along with butterflies are lifelines for our health, our food systems and our economies – supporting the fruits, vegetables and seeds that sustain us,” stated the IUCN director general. “The latest European red list assessments reveal significant difficulties, with dangers growing for butterflies and essential wild bee types.”
The causes of the rapid recent declines are the continuing damage or destruction of habitats caused by intensive agriculture and land abandonment, draining wetlands, livestock overgrazing, and the application of fertilisers and pesticides including neonicotinoids. The division of habitat friendly to pollinators greatly increases the danger of local extinctions.
Climate change is also shown to be a major threat: Fifty-two percent of all threatened butterflies in European nations are endangered by the climate crisis – roughly twice as many as a decade ago.
Up to nine out of ten of blooming plants in the European continent require pollination by animals, as per the lead coordinator of the wild bee assessment. “Sadly, native bee populations are in drastic decline and are not easily replaceable by managed bee colonies,” he said. “If native bees die out, many non-cultivated plants might be threatened too – of which bloom-filled grasslands and lovely orchid types are just a handful of illustrations.”
Fifteen types of bumblebees, which play a crucial role in pollinating crops such as peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and fourteen varieties of cellophane bees, recognized for aiding tree pollination such as willow trees and red maples, are now categorized as at-risk. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee unique to the European continent and the single type of this genus group in Europe, is now classified as critically endangered – the research category most akin to dying out in natural habitats.
Butterfly species that are solely present on mountain peaks are particularly vulnerable to global heating as they need to move uphill as their habitats become more heated but in the end have no room left. In Spain’s southern region, the grayling of Nevada and the anomalous blue of Andalusia are among above 40 percent of species endemic to Europe (only found in Europe) facing extinction.
In the Mediterranean area, varieties such as the severely threatened Karpathos grayling are imperilled by extreme wildfires and drought.
In the meantime, in the Arctic Circle, global warming is leading to the tree line to move north by tens of metres each year, with bushes taking over marsh and tundra. Higher temperatures also mean caribou can no more cross the ice to feed on Arctic meadows and maintain them clear. Eight butterfly species are facing extinction in this zone, including Freyja’s fritillary and the ringlet of the Arctic.
“The largest environment for all these pollinating species is flower-rich grassland and that is disappearing very fast throughout the European continent because of all these factors,” 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 understanding. Under the EU nature restoration legislation, all participating nations have to turn around the decrease in pollinating insects 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 motivations that will help them on their way.”
According to Warren, there is “low-hanging fruit” in terms of action for pollinators which will not decrease food production – and may enhance it – such as farmers creating bloom-filled edges around their farmland.
the EU’s environment commissioner, described the conservation status of non-managed bees, butterfly species and other pollinating insects as “dire”.
“Prompt and unified steps is necessary to address this threat. In collaboration with member states, the European Commission has put in place an EU-wide observation system for pollinating insects based on the EU nature restoration regulation, which will assist in monitoring our development. Now, we need to prioritize implementation and cooperation with member states to preserve our pollinators,” she said.
The issuance of the assessments on bees and butterflies is subsequent to the first Europe-wide assessment of hoverflies, an additional vital pollinating insect category. Published in 2022, it disclosed that over one-third of all hoverfly types in the European continent were facing extinction.
