The total of native bee species in the European continent facing disappearance has more than doubled over the past decade, while the total of threatened butterfly types has almost doubled.
This dire scenario for essential pollinators was disclosed by scientific studies for the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) red list, which established that at least 172 bee types out of nearly two thousand were facing extinction in Europe.
The number of butterflies threatened with extinction in the European continent has grown from thirty-seven to 65 since the earlier research, performed 14 years ago. A single species, the large white of Madeira (Pieris wollastoni) has now been declared extinct.
“Beyond their visual charm and cultural value, pollinators like bees and butterfly species are lifelines for our well-being, our food systems and our economies – sustaining the fruits, vegetables and seeds that nourish us,” commented the IUCN’s director general. “The latest assessments of the European red list reveal significant difficulties, with risks mounting for butterfly species and essential wild bee types.”
The causes of the swift recent drops are the continuing damage or destruction of natural habitats caused by intensive agriculture and abandoned land, wetland drainage, excessive grazing by animals, and the utilization of pesticides and fertilisers including neonicotinoid chemicals. The breaking up of environments suitable for pollinators substantially boosts the threat of disappearances in specific areas.
Global heating is also demonstrated to be a major threat: Over half of all at-risk butterfly species in the European continent are endangered by the climate change crisis – about double the number as a ten years ago.
Up to 90% of plants that flower in European nations require animal pollination, as stated by the wild bee assessment’s lead coordinator. “Sadly, native bee groups are in drastic decline and cannot be easily replaced by domesticated hives,” he said. “If non-managed bees disappear, many wild plants might be in danger as well – of which flower-rich meadows and attractive orchid varieties are just a couple of instances.”
Fifteen types of bumblebee types, which have an essential part in pollinating legumes like peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and 14 species of cellophane bee species, famous for pollinating trees such as willow trees and red maples, are now classified as threatened. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee exclusive to the mainland and the single type of this genus in European nations, is now classified as critically at risk – the scientific category nearest to disappearance in the wild.
Butterfly types that are exclusively located on high-altitude areas 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 Spain’s southern region, the Nevada grayling and the anomalous blue of Andalusia are among more than 40% of species endemic to Europe (exclusive to Europe) threatened with extinction.
In the Mediterranean region, types such as the highly at-risk Karpathos grayling are endangered by intense drought and wildfires.
In the meantime, in the Far North, global warming is leading to the tree line to advance northwards by dozens of meters each year, with bushes taking over wetlands and tundra. Hotter climates also mean reindeer can no longer cross the ice sheets to browse northern grasslands and maintain them clear. Eight butterfly species are at risk of extinction in this zone, including Freyja’s fritillary and the Arctic ringlet.
“The largest habitat for all these pollinating species is grassland rich in flowers and that is vanishing rapidly in the European continent because of all these reasons,” stated one of the lead coordinators of the butterflies assessment. “The encouraging aspect 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 decline in pollinators by twenty-thirty, and they are going to have to initiate measures. There are property owners who are involved. We hope they can obtain the motivations that will support them on their way.”
According to Warren, there is “easy opportunities” in terms of steps for pollinators which won’t reduce agricultural output – and might boost it – such as growers creating bloom-filled edges around their fields.
Jessika Roswall, described the preservation condition of non-managed bees, butterfly species and other pollinating insects as “severe”.
“Immediate and joint measures is necessary to address this threat. Along with participating nations, the EU Commission has implemented an European Union-wide tracking system for pollinating insects based on the EU nature restoration law, which will aid in following our development. Now, we need to prioritize execution and cooperation with member states to protect our pollinating insects,” she said.
The release of the assessments on bees and butterflies comes after the initial Europe-wide assessment of hoverflies, a further crucial group of pollinators. Released in 2022, it showed that 37% of all hoverfly types in Europe were at risk of extinction.
