The number of non-managed bee species in the European continent confronting disappearance has more than doubled in the last ten years, while the total of endangered butterfly types has close to doubled.
This critical situation for essential pollinating species was unveiled by scientific assessments for the red list of threatened species, which determined that at least 172 bee species out of over 1900 were threatened with extinction in the European continent.
The count of butterfly species at risk of extinction in Europe has increased from 37 to 65 since the earlier research, conducted over a decade past. One species, the Madeiran large white butterfly (Pieris wollastoni) has now been classified as extinct.
Apart from their visual charm and cultural importance, pollinating species like bees along with butterflies are essential supports for our well-being, our food chains and our financial structures – maintaining the fruits, veggies and seeds that feed us,” stated the IUCN director general. “The most recent European red list evaluations reveal significant difficulties, with threats growing for butterfly species and crucial wild bee species.”
The factors of the quick recent decreases are the ongoing harm or degradation of living environments caused by intensive agriculture and deserted farmland, wetland drainage, livestock overgrazing, and the application of chemical fertilisers and pesticides including neonicotinoid chemicals. The division of pollinator-friendly habitat greatly increases the danger of local extinctions.
Climate change is also revealed to be a significant danger: Over half of all threatened butterfly species in Europe are endangered by the climate emergency – about twice as many as a decade ago.
Nearly nine out of ten of flowering plants in the European continent rely on pollination by animals, as per Dr Denis Michez. “Regrettably, wild bee colonies are in sharp decrease and cannot be easily replaced by managed colonies,” he said. “If native bees disappear, many wild plants might be in danger as well – of which flower-rich meadows and lovely orchid types are just a couple of instances.”
Fifteen species of bumblebee types, which perform a vital function in aiding the pollination of legumes like peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and 14 types of cellophane bee species, recognized for aiding tree pollination such as willow trees and red maples, are now categorized as at-risk. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee species exclusive to the mainland and the sole species of this genus in Europe, is now assessed as severely threatened – the scientific classification closest to dying out in natural habitats.
Butterfly types that are solely present on mountain tops are especially at risk to global heating as they need to move uphill as their living spaces become hotter but eventually have no room left. In southern Spain, the grayling of Nevada and the anomalous blue of Andalusia are among more than 40% of types unique to Europe (only found in Europe) facing extinction.
In the Mediterranean, types such as the severely threatened grayling of Karpathos are endangered by extreme wildfires and drought.
In the meantime, in the Arctic region, climate change is leading to the timberline to shift northward by dozens of meters each year, with bushes invading wetlands and tundra. Hotter climates also mean caribou can no longer cross the frozen water to feed on Arctic meadows and prevent them from overgrowing. 8 butterfly varieties are facing extinction in this area, including the fritillary of Freyja and the ringlet of the Arctic.
“The biggest environment for all these pollinators is flower-rich grassland and that is vanishing rapidly throughout European nations because of all these factors,” remarked Martin Warren. “The positive thing 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 reverse the decrease in pollinating species by twenty-thirty, and they are going to have to initiate measures. There are property owners who are interested. We hope they can get the incentives that will assist them on their way.”
As per Martin Warren, there is “readily achievable actions” in terms of steps for pollinators which won’t reduce crop yields – and might boost it – such as agricultural producers establishing flower-rich margins around their fields.
the EU’s environment commissioner, characterized the protection status of wild bees, butterflies and other pollinators as “critical”.
“Urgent and collective action is needed to address this risk. Along with member countries, the EU Commission has established an European Union-wide monitoring system for pollinating insects based on the EU nature restoration regulation, which will aid in following our development. Now, we need to prioritize execution and cooperation with member states to preserve our pollinating insects,” she said.
The publication of the evaluations of bees along with butterflies follows the initial Europe-wide study on hoverflies, an additional crucial pollinating insect category. Published in 2022, it revealed that 37% of all hoverfly species in European nations were threatened with extinction.
