The number of native bee species in Europe experiencing extinction has increased twofold during the previous ten-year period, and the count of at-risk butterfly has almost doubled.
This pressing issue for vital pollinators was unveiled by scientific studies for the red list of threatened species, which determined that at least one hundred seventy-two bee varieties out of over 1900 were threatened with extinction in Europe.
The count of butterfly species facing extinction in European nations has increased from over thirty-five to over sixty since the earlier research, performed 14 years ago. A single species, the Madeiran large white butterfly (Pieris wollastoni) has now been confirmed extinct.
In addition to their aesthetic appeal and cultural importance, pollinating insects like bees along with butterflies are essential supports for our physical condition, our food systems and our economies – supporting the fruits, vegetables and seeds that sustain us,” stated the IUCN’s director general. “The latest European red list evaluations reveal serious challenges, with threats growing for butterflies and essential native bee varieties.”
The factors of the quick recent decreases are the ongoing harm or degradation of living environments caused by farming intensification and abandoned land, draining of wetlands, excessive grazing by animals, and the utilization of pesticides and fertilisers including neonicotinoid pesticides. The fragmentation of pollinator-friendly habitat significantly raises the risk of disappearances in specific areas.
Global warming is also demonstrated to be a significant danger: Over half of all threatened butterfly species in Europe are endangered by the climate change crisis – approximately twofold the amount as a decade ago.
Up to ninety percent of plants that flower in the European continent rely on pollination by animals, as stated by the lead coordinator of the wild bee assessment. “Sadly, native bee populations are in sharp decrease and are not easily replaceable by managed bee colonies,” he said. “If wild bees disappear, many wild plants might be threatened too – of which meadows rich in flowers and lovely orchid types are just a few examples.”
Fifteen species of bumblebees, which perform a vital function in fertilizing peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and 14 types of cellophane bee types, recognized for aiding tree pollination such as willows along with red maples, are now listed as threatened. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee exclusive to the continent and the only species of this biological genus in Europe, is now classified as critically at risk – the research category nearest to extinction in the wild.
Butterfly types that are exclusively located on mountain peaks are highly susceptible to climate change as they must ascend higher as their habitats become more heated but in the end have no room left. In Spain’s southern region, the Nevada grayling and the Andalusian anomalous blue are among over forty percent of types unique to Europe (exclusive to Europe) facing extinction.
In the Mediterranean region, varieties such as the critically endangered grayling of Karpathos are imperilled by severe drought and wildfires.
At the same time, in the Arctic region, global heating is causing the tree line to advance northwards by many meters each year, with underbrush encroaching on bog and tundra. Hotter climates also mean Arctic deer can not anymore cross the ice to browse Arctic grasslands and keep them open. Eight butterfly species are facing extinction in this zone, including the fritillary of Freyja and the Arctic ringlet butterfly.
“The biggest living space for all these pollinators is bloom-filled grassy areas and that is vanishing rapidly throughout the European continent because of all these factors,” said a lead coordinator for the butterfly assessment. “The encouraging aspect is that so many citizens are concerned now and there’s a lot more awareness. Under the EU’s nature restoration regulation, all participating nations have to halt the drop in pollinators by 2030, and they are going to have to start doing something. There are land holders who are engaged. We hope they can receive the incentives that will help them on their way.”
According to Martin Warren, there is “low-hanging fruit” in terms of measures for pollinating insects which will not decrease crop yields – and may enhance it – such as farmers developing margins rich in flowers around their cultivated areas.
EU commissioner for environment, described the protection status of wild bees, butterflies and other pollinators as “severe”.
“Urgent and collective action is necessary to address this danger. Together with member countries, the European Commission has implemented an Europe-wide tracking system for pollinators based on the EU nature restoration regulation, which will aid in following our development. Now, we need to prioritize implementation and cooperation with member states to safeguard our pollinators,” she said.
The issuance of the bee and butterfly assessments follows the initial Europe-wide evaluation of hoverflies, another crucial group of pollinators. Issued in 2022, it disclosed that thirty-seven percent of all hoverfly types in the European continent were at risk of extinction.
