The count of wild bee species in the European continent confronting disappearance has increased twofold in the last ten years, while the count of endangered butterfly has almost doubled.
This critical situation for essential pollinating species was revealed by scientific studies for the IUCN red list, which determined that at least one hundred seventy-two bee varieties out of 1,928 were facing extinction in Europe.
The total of butterfly types threatened with extinction in the European continent has increased from over thirty-five to 65 since the previous assessment, performed 14 years ago. One type, the Madeiran large white butterfly (Pieris wollastoni) has now been classified as extinct.
Apart from their aesthetic appeal and cultural significance, pollinators like bees and butterfly species are essential supports for our health, our food systems and our economic systems – maintaining the fruits, vegetables and seeds that nourish us,” stated the IUCN director general. “The most recent European red list assessments reveal significant difficulties, with threats mounting for butterflies and vital non-managed bee varieties.”
The causes of the quick recent decreases are the ongoing damage or destruction of living environments caused by intensive agriculture and land abandonment, draining of wetlands, excessive grazing by animals, and the application of fertilisers and pesticides including neonicotinoid chemicals. The division of pollinator-friendly habitat greatly increases the danger of extinctions at local level.
Global warming is also demonstrated to be a significant danger: Fifty-two percent of all at-risk butterfly species in European nations are imperilled by the climate emergency – about twice as many as a ten years ago.
Up to 90% of blooming plants in Europe rely on animal pollination, as stated by Dr Denis Michez. “Unfortunately, non-managed bee colonies are in drastic decline and cannot readily be substituted by domesticated hives,” he said. “If non-managed bees vanish, many wild plants might be threatened too – of which meadows rich in flowers and beautiful orchid species are just a handful of illustrations.”
Fifteen types of bumblebee species, which play a crucial role in aiding the pollination of crops such as peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and 14 species of cellophane bees, recognized for aiding tree pollination such as willow trees and red maples, are now classified as threatened. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee found only in the mainland and the only species of this genus group in Europe, is now assessed as critically endangered – the scientific category most akin to disappearance in the wild.
Butterfly species that are only found on mountain tops are highly susceptible to global heating as they need to move uphill as their environments become more heated but in the end exhaust available space. In southern Spain, the Nevada grayling butterfly and the Andalusian anomalous blue butterfly are among more than 40% of European endemics (solely present in Europe) facing extinction.
In the Mediterranean, species such as the highly at-risk Karpathos grayling are endangered by extreme drought and wildfires.
Meanwhile, in the Arctic region, global heating is leading to the tree line to advance northwards by many meters each year, with underbrush encroaching on bog and tundra. Hotter climates also mean reindeer can no longer cross the ice sheets to feed on northern grasslands and keep them open. Eight butterfly species are facing extinction in this region, including Freyja’s fritillary butterfly and the Arctic ringlet.
“The greatest habitat for all these pollinating species is bloom-filled grassy areas and that is declining quickly across Europe because of all these reasons,” said Martin Warren. “The encouraging aspect is that so many individuals are aware now and there’s a lot more understanding. Under the European Union nature restoration law, all member countries have to halt the drop in pollinating insects by 2030, and they are going to have to begin taking action. There are landowners who are involved. Let’s hope they can get the motivations that will support them on their way.”
As per Martin Warren, there is “low-hanging fruit” in terms of steps for pollinators which will not decrease food production – and might boost it – such as agricultural producers developing margins rich in flowers around their farmland.
Jessika Roswall, portrayed the protection status of wild bees, butterflies and other pollinators as “dire”.
“Immediate and joint measures is necessary to confront this risk. Together with participating nations, the European Commission has implemented an Europe-wide observation system for pollinating insects based on the EU nature restoration law, which will help to track our advancement. Now, we need to prioritize application and partnership with member countries to protect our pollinators,” she said.
The issuance of the assessments on bees and butterflies comes after the pioneering European-wide evaluation of hoverflies, another crucial group of pollinators. Issued in 2022, it revealed that thirty-seven percent of all hoverfly species in the European continent were facing extinction.
