The total of native bee species in the European continent confronting dying out has over doubled during the previous ten-year period, whereas the number of threatened butterfly types has nearly doubled.
This dire scenario for crucial pollinating species was disclosed by scientific studies for the IUCN red list, which established that at least 172 bee varieties out of nearly two thousand were at risk of extinction in Europe.
The number of butterfly species threatened with extinction in Europe has increased from over thirty-five to 65 since the previous assessment, performed over a decade past. One type, the Madeiran large white butterfly (Pieris wollastoni) has now been declared extinct.
In addition to their aesthetic appeal and cultural value, pollinating species like bees and butterflies are essential supports for our health, our food supplies and our financial structures – sustaining the fruits, vegetables and seeds that sustain us,” stated the IUCN director general. “The newest European red list assessments reveal significant difficulties, with dangers mounting for butterflies and vital wild bee species.”
The causes of the quick recent decreases are the continuing damage or destruction of living environments caused by farming intensification and deserted farmland, draining wetlands, overgrazing by livestock, and the utilization of fertilisers and pesticides including neonicotinoid pesticides. The division of pollinator-friendly habitat greatly increases the danger of local extinctions.
Global warming is also shown to be a major threat: 52% of all at-risk butterfly species in European nations are threatened by the climate change crisis – about double the number as a decade ago.
Nearly 90% of blooming plants in the European continent depend on pollination by animals, as stated by the wild bee assessment’s lead coordinator. “Regrettably, non-managed bee populations are in drastic decline and cannot be easily replaced by managed colonies,” he said. “If wild bees vanish, many non-cultivated plants might be in danger as well – of which meadows rich in flowers and attractive orchid varieties are just a handful of illustrations.”
Fifteen types of bumblebee species, which play a crucial role in fertilizing crops such as peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and 14 species of cellophane bees, famous for aiding tree pollination such as willows along with red maples, are now categorized as at-risk. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee species found only in the European continent and the sole species of this genus group in European nations, is now assessed as severely threatened – the scientific classification most akin to disappearance in the wild.
Butterfly types that are only found on mountain tops are particularly vulnerable to global warming as they have to climb upward as their environments become hotter but in the end run out of space. In southern Spain, the grayling of Nevada and the anomalous blue of Andalusia are among more than 40% of types unique to Europe (only found in Europe) threatened with extinction.
In the Mediterranean region, species such as the highly at-risk Karpathos grayling are endangered by intense drought and wildfires.
At the same time, in the Far North, global warming is resulting in the timberline to move north by tens of metres each year, with bushes taking over marsh and tundra. Hotter climates also mean caribou can no longer cross the frozen water to graze Arctic grasslands and prevent them from overgrowing. 8 butterfly varieties are threatened with extinction in this zone, including the fritillary of Freyja and the Arctic ringlet butterfly.
“The greatest living space for all these pollinating insects is bloom-filled grassy areas and that is disappearing very fast in the European continent because of all these reasons,” said Martin Warren. “The positive thing is that so many individuals are aware now and there’s a lot more understanding. Under the EU nature restoration legislation, all participating nations have to reverse the drop in pollinators by twenty-thirty, and they are going to have to initiate measures. There are landowners who are involved. Let’s hope they can get the incentives that will help them on their way.”
As stated by Warren, there is “easy opportunities” in terms of steps for pollinators which will not decrease food production – and might boost it – such as agricultural producers creating margins rich in flowers around their farmland.
Jessika Roswall, portrayed the preservation condition of wild bees, butterflies and other pollinators as “critical”.
“Urgent and collective action is necessary to tackle this danger. Along with member countries, the EU Commission has implemented an Europe-wide observation system for pollinating insects based on the EU nature restoration regulation, which will aid in following our advancement. Now, we need to focus on implementation and collaboration with member states to preserve our pollinating insects,” she said.
The release of the evaluations of bees along with butterflies comes after the first EU-wide assessment of hoverflies, another vital pollinator group. Released in 2022, it disclosed that thirty-seven percent of all hoverfly species in European nations were facing extinction.
