The total of wild bee species in Europe facing disappearance has over doubled during the previous ten-year period, whereas the number of at-risk butterfly species has close to doubled.
This pressing issue for essential pollinators was disclosed by research studies for the IUCN red list, which found that at least 172 bee varieties out of nearly two thousand were threatened with extinction in the European continent.
The number of butterfly species threatened with extinction in Europe has risen from over thirty-five to 65 since the earlier research, conducted a decade and a half ago. One species, the large white of Madeira (Pieris wollastoni) has now been classified as extinct.
“Beyond their visual charm and cultural importance, pollinating species like bees and butterfly species are crucial elements for our well-being, our food supplies and our economies – supporting the produce, vegetables and seeds that sustain us,” said the IUCN director general. “The latest assessments of the European red list reveal major obstacles, with threats growing for butterflies and essential wild bee types.”
The reasons of the quick recent decreases are the persistent destruction or damage of natural habitats caused by intensive agriculture and abandoned land, wetland drainage, overgrazing by livestock, and the use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides including neonicotinoid pesticides. The breaking up of pollinator-friendly habitat significantly raises the danger of disappearances in specific areas.
Climate change is also shown to be a major threat: Over half of all threatened butterfly species in the European continent are threatened by the climate emergency – approximately twice as many as a previous decade.
Nearly nine out of ten of plants that flower in European nations depend on pollination by animals, as per Dr Denis Michez. “Unfortunately, wild bee groups are in sharp decrease and are not easily replaceable by managed colonies,” he said. “If native bees disappear, many native plants might be in danger as well – of which meadows rich in flowers and attractive orchid varieties are just a few examples.”
15 varieties of bumblebee species, which play a crucial role in pollinating legumes like peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and 14 species of cellophane bee types, known for pollinating trees such as willow trees and red maples, are now listed as threatened. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee type found only in the European continent and the single type of this genus in Europe, is now assessed as critically endangered – the scientific category closest to dying out in natural habitats.
Butterflies that are only found on mountain peaks are highly susceptible to global heating as they must ascend higher as their environments become more heated but eventually run out of space. In the southern part of Spain, the Nevada grayling butterfly and the anomalous blue of Andalusia are among above 40 percent of species endemic to Europe (solely present in Europe) facing extinction.
In the Mediterranean, types such as the critically endangered Karpathos grayling are imperilled by severe drought and wildfires.
In the meantime, in the Arctic region, climate change is leading to the timberline to advance northwards by tens of metres each year, with underbrush invading marsh and tundra. Warmer conditions also mean reindeer can not anymore cross the ice to graze Arctic grasslands and keep them open. 8 butterfly varieties are facing extinction in this area, including Freyja’s fritillary and the Arctic ringlet.
“The largest habitat for all these pollinating insects is bloom-filled grassy areas and that is disappearing very fast throughout Europe because of all these reasons,” said one of the lead coordinators of the butterflies assessment. “The positive thing is that so many citizens care now and there’s a lot more consciousness. Under the European Union nature restoration law, all member states have to reverse the drop in pollinating insects by twenty-thirty, and they are going to have to initiate measures. There are property owners who are interested. We hope they can get the incentives that will support them on their way.”
According to Martin Warren, there is “low-hanging fruit” in terms of steps for pollinating species which will not decrease agricultural output – and might boost it – such as agricultural producers establishing flower-rich margins around their cultivated areas.
EU commissioner for environment, described the protection status of non-managed bees, butterfly species and other pollinating insects as “dire”.
“Prompt and unified steps is needed to address this danger. In collaboration with member states, the EU Commission has established an Europe-wide tracking system for pollinating species based on the EU nature restoration regulation, which will help to track our advancement. Now, we need to focus on implementation and cooperation with member countries to protect our pollinators,” she said.
The publication of the assessments on bees and butterflies is subsequent to the pioneering European-wide assessment of hoverflies, an additional crucial group of pollinators. Published in 2022, it disclosed that over one-third of all hoverfly species in the European continent were at risk of extinction.
