The count of native bee types in the European continent experiencing extinction has over doubled during the previous ten-year period, whereas the count of at-risk butterfly types has close to doubled.
This dire scenario for crucial pollinating species was disclosed by research 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 butterflies facing extinction in Europe has risen from thirty-seven to over sixty since the earlier research, conducted over a decade past. One species, the Madeiran large white butterfly (Pieris wollastoni) has now been classified as extinct.
In addition to their beauty and cultural significance, pollinators like bees along with butterflies are crucial elements for our well-being, our food supplies and our economic systems – maintaining the produce, vegetables and seeds that sustain us,” stated Grethel Aguilar. “The latest assessments of the European red list reveal significant difficulties, with threats mounting for butterfly species and essential wild bee varieties.”
The factors of the swift recent drops are the continuing damage or destruction of natural habitats caused by farming intensification and abandoned land, draining of wetlands, excessive grazing by animals, and the application of fertilisers and pesticides including neonicotinoid chemicals. The breaking up of environments suitable for pollinators significantly raises the risk of disappearances in specific areas.
Climate change is also revealed to be a major threat: Fifty-two percent of all at-risk butterfly species in the European continent are threatened by the climate change crisis – roughly twofold the amount as a ten years ago.
Nearly ninety percent of plants that flower in the European continent rely on pollination by animals, as stated by Dr Denis Michez. “Unfortunately, wild bee groups are in sharp decrease and are not easily replaceable by managed bee colonies,” he said. “If non-managed bees vanish, many non-cultivated plants might be threatened too – of which bloom-filled grasslands and beautiful orchid species are just a few examples.”
15 varieties of bumblebee species, which have an essential part in fertilizing crops such as peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and fourteen varieties of cellophane bees, famous for aiding tree pollination such as willows along with red maples, are now listed as threatened. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee species found only in the European continent and the sole species of this biological genus in European nations, is now evaluated as severely threatened – the scientific category most akin to extinction in the wild.
Butterfly species that are only found on mountain tops are especially at risk to climate change as they must ascend higher as their environments become warmer but eventually run out of space. In southern Spain, the Nevada grayling butterfly and the Andalusian anomalous blue are among over forty percent of European endemics (only found in Europe) at risk of extinction.
In the Mediterranean, varieties such as the severely threatened Karpathos grayling butterfly are endangered by intense drought and wildfires.
Meanwhile, in the Arctic region, global warming is causing the forest boundary to shift northward by many meters each year, with scrub encroaching on marsh and tundra. Hotter climates also mean reindeer can not anymore cross the frozen water to graze northern grasslands and maintain them clear. Eight types of butterflies are threatened with extinction in this area, including Freyja’s fritillary butterfly and the ringlet of the Arctic.
“The largest environment for all these pollinating insects is bloom-filled grassy areas and that is disappearing very fast across the European continent because of all these reasons,” remarked one of the lead coordinators of the butterflies assessment. “The good news is that so many people are aware now and there’s a lot more awareness. Under the EU nature restoration legislation, all member states have to halt the decline in pollinating species by twenty-thirty, and they are going to have to begin taking action. There are landowners who are interested. Let’s hope they can get the motivations that will help them on their way.”
According to Martin Warren, there is “easy opportunities” in terms of action for pollinators which will not lower food production – and could improve it – such as growers establishing margins rich in flowers around their farmland.
EU commissioner for environment, portrayed the conservation status of non-managed bees, butterfly species and other pollinating insects as “severe”.
“Immediate and joint measures is needed to address this risk. Together with participating nations, the EU Commission has implemented an Europe-wide observation system for pollinating insects based on the European Union nature restoration legislation, which will assist in monitoring our advancement. Now, we need to concentrate on application and collaboration with member states to preserve our pollinating insects,” she said.
The issuance of the evaluations of bees along with butterflies follows the initial Europe-wide study on hoverflies, another crucial pollinating insect category. Released in 2022, it disclosed that over one-third of all hoverfly types in the European continent were threatened with extinction.
