The total of non-managed bee types in Europe experiencing dying out has increased twofold during the previous ten-year period, whereas the number of endangered butterfly types has close to doubled.
This critical situation for vital pollinating species was revealed by research studies for the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) red list, which established that at least one hundred seventy-two bee species out of 1,928 were threatened with extinction in the European continent.
The count of butterfly types facing extinction in the European continent has risen from thirty-seven to sixty-five since the earlier research, carried out over a decade past. A single species, the large white of Madeira (Pieris wollastoni) has now been classified as extinct.
Apart from their visual charm and cultural significance, pollinators like bees and butterflies are essential supports for our well-being, our food chains and our financial structures – sustaining the fruits, vegetables and seeds that nourish us,” said the IUCN’s director general. “The most recent European red list evaluations reveal major obstacles, with dangers mounting for butterfly species and essential native bee species.”
The causes of the swift recent drops are the ongoing damage or destruction of natural habitats caused by intensive agriculture and land abandonment, wetland drainage, overgrazing by livestock, and the utilization of pesticides and fertilisers including neonicotinoids. The breaking up of environments suitable for pollinators greatly increases the risk of local extinctions.
Global warming is also shown to be a significant danger: Over half of all at-risk butterfly types in Europe are endangered by the climate crisis – roughly twice as many as a ten years ago.
Up to nine out of ten of flowering plants in European nations rely on pollination by animals, as stated by the wild bee assessment’s lead coordinator. “Sadly, wild bee colonies are in drastic decline and cannot be easily replaced by domesticated hives,” he said. “If native bees vanish, many native plants might be in danger as well – of which meadows rich in flowers and lovely orchid types are just a few examples.”
Fifteen types of bumblebee types, which have an essential part in pollinating peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and 14 types of cellophane bee species, famous for pollinating trees such as willow trees and red maples, are now listed as threatened. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee type exclusive to the mainland and the only species of this biological genus in European nations, is now evaluated as severely threatened – the scientific category closest to dying out in natural habitats.
Butterfly types that are solely present on mountain peaks are especially at risk to climate change as they must ascend higher as their habitats become hotter but ultimately have no room left. In Spain’s southern region, the grayling of Nevada and the Andalusian anomalous blue are among over forty percent of European endemics (solely present in Europe) facing extinction.
In the Mediterranean region, types such as the severely threatened Karpathos grayling butterfly are imperilled by severe drought and wildfires.
Meanwhile, in the Far North, global warming is leading to the tree line to shift northward by tens of metres each year, with bushes invading marsh and tundra. Warmer conditions also mean reindeer can no longer cross the frozen water to browse Arctic grasslands and maintain them clear. Eight types of butterflies are threatened with extinction in this zone, including Freyja’s fritillary butterfly and the ringlet of the Arctic.
“The greatest habitat for all these pollinating species is grassland rich in flowers and that is disappearing very fast across Europe because of all these factors,” remarked one of the lead coordinators of the butterflies assessment. “The good news is that so many citizens care now and there’s a lot more awareness. Under the EU’s nature restoration regulation, all participating nations have to turn around the decrease in pollinators by the year 2030, and they are going to have to start doing something. There are land holders who are engaged. Let’s hope they can receive the motivations that will help them on their way.”
As stated by Martin Warren, there is “easy opportunities” in terms of action for pollinating species which won’t reduce food production – and may enhance it – such as farmers creating bloom-filled edges around their farmland.
EU commissioner for environment, characterized the protection status of native bees, butterflies and additional pollinators as “dire”.
“Prompt and unified steps is necessary to address this danger. Along with participating nations, the Commission of the European Union has implemented an European Union-wide observation system for pollinating species based on the EU nature restoration law, which will help to track our development. Now, we need to concentrate on application and partnership with member countries to protect our pollinating insects,” she said.
The release of the assessments on bees and butterflies comes after the pioneering European-wide study on hoverflies, an additional vital pollinator group. Published in twenty-twenty-two, it disclosed that 37% of all hoverfly species in the European continent were threatened with extinction.
