The count of native bee varieties in European nations confronting extinction has over doubled during the previous ten-year period, whereas the count of endangered butterfly types has close to doubled.
This dire scenario for vital pollinating species was disclosed by scientific assessments for the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) red list, which determined that at least 172 bee types out of 1,928 were facing extinction in European nations.
The count of butterfly types facing extinction in Europe has risen from thirty-seven to 65 since the last study, carried out 14 years ago. One type, the Madeiran large white (Pieris wollastoni) has now been declared extinct.
“Beyond their aesthetic appeal and cultural importance, pollinating insects like bees along with butterflies are essential supports for our well-being, our food chains and our financial structures – maintaining the fruits, veggies and seeds that nourish us,” said the IUCN director general. “The latest assessments of the European red list reveal significant difficulties, with threats growing for butterfly types and crucial wild bee types.”
The causes of the rapid recent declines are the persistent destruction or damage of natural habitats caused by agricultural intensification and deserted farmland, wetland drainage, livestock overgrazing, and the use of pesticides and fertilisers including neonicotinoids. The fragmentation of environments suitable for pollinators greatly increases the risk of extinctions at local level.
Global warming is also demonstrated to be a primary risk: Fifty-two percent of all threatened butterflies in the European continent are threatened by the climate change crisis – roughly double the number as a previous decade.
Up to ninety percent of blooming plants in European nations rely on insect pollination, as stated by Dr Denis Michez. “Sadly, native bee populations are in sharp decrease and cannot readily be substituted by managed bee colonies,” he said. “If non-managed bees vanish, many wild plants might be at risk too – of which flower-rich meadows and beautiful orchid species are just a handful of illustrations.”
15 varieties of bumblebees, which have an essential part in pollinating 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 type unique to the continent and the sole species of this genus in European nations, is now assessed as critically at risk – the scientific category most akin to dying out in natural habitats.
Butterflies that are only found on mountain tops are particularly vulnerable to global heating as they must ascend higher as their habitats become warmer but ultimately run out of space. In southern Spain, 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 area, varieties such as the highly at-risk Karpathos grayling butterfly are endangered by extreme drought and wildfires.
At the same time, in the Arctic region, global heating is causing the forest boundary to advance northwards by tens of metres each year, with scrub encroaching on wetlands and tundra. Higher temperatures also mean caribou can no more cross the ice to feed on northern grasslands and maintain them clear. 8 butterfly varieties are threatened with extinction in this zone, including the fritillary of Freyja and the ringlet of the Arctic.
“The biggest habitat for all these pollinating species is flower-rich grassland and that is vanishing rapidly across the European continent because of all these elements,” said a lead coordinator for the butterfly assessment. “The encouraging aspect is that so many individuals are concerned now and there’s a lot more consciousness. Under the EU nature restoration legislation, all participating nations have to turn around the drop in pollinators by twenty-thirty, and they are going to have to start doing something. There are land holders who are engaged. It is hoped they can receive the encouragements that will assist them on their way.”
As stated by the coordinator, there is “easy opportunities” in terms of steps for pollinators which won’t reduce crop yields – and could improve it – such as farmers developing bloom-filled edges around their cultivated areas.
EU commissioner for environment, described the conservation status of native bees, butterflies and additional pollinators as “critical”.
“Prompt and unified steps is needed to address this risk. In collaboration with member countries, the Commission of the European Union has put in place an European Union-wide monitoring system for pollinating insects based on the European Union nature restoration legislation, which will assist in monitoring our progress. Now, we need to focus on application and cooperation with member states to safeguard our pollinating species,” she said.
The publication of the assessments on bees and butterflies follows the first EU-wide study on hoverflies, an additional vital group of pollinators. Released in twenty-twenty-two, it revealed that 37% of all hoverfly varieties in European nations were threatened with extinction.
