The count of native bee species in European nations experiencing extinction has more than doubled over the past decade, and the total of endangered butterfly species has nearly doubled.
This dire scenario for vital pollinators was revealed by research studies for the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) red list, which found that at least over 170 bee varieties out of 1,928 were threatened with extinction in European nations.
The count of butterflies threatened with extinction in Europe has risen from over thirty-five to over sixty since the last study, carried out over a decade past. One species, the Madeiran large white (Pieris wollastoni) has now been confirmed extinct.
In addition to their visual charm and cultural importance, pollinating species like bees along with butterflies are lifelines for our health, our food systems and our financial structures – maintaining the fruits, vegetables and seeds that nourish us,” stated the IUCN’s director general. “The most recent European red list evaluations reveal major obstacles, with risks mounting for butterfly species and essential non-managed bee species.”
The factors of the swift recent drops are the persistent destruction or damage of natural habitats caused by intensive agriculture and abandoned land, draining wetlands, excessive grazing by animals, and the application of fertilisers and pesticides including neonicotinoid chemicals. The fragmentation of environments suitable for pollinators significantly raises the risk of extinctions at local level.
Global warming is also shown to be a major threat: 52% of all at-risk butterflies in Europe are imperilled by the climate crisis – about twofold the amount as a decade ago.
Up to 90% of blooming plants in Europe require animal pollination, as per Dr Denis Michez. “Unfortunately, wild bee colonies are in sharp decrease and are not easily replaceable by managed bee colonies,” he said. “If non-managed bees die out, many wild plants might be at risk too – of which bloom-filled grasslands and lovely orchid types are just a couple of instances.”
Fifteen types of bumblebee types, which play a crucial role in aiding the pollination of peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and 14 species of cellophane bees, recognized for fertilizing trees such as willows and red maples, are now listed as threatened. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee unique to the continent and the only species of this genus in the European continent, is now classified as severely threatened – the scientific category most akin to extinction in the wild.
Butterfly types that are solely present on mountain peaks are highly susceptible to global warming as they must ascend higher as their environments become hotter but in the end have no room left. In southern Spain, the grayling of Nevada and the Andalusian anomalous blue butterfly are among over forty percent of European endemics (solely present in Europe) facing extinction.
In the Mediterranean region, species such as the critically endangered Karpathos grayling butterfly are endangered by extreme drought and wildfires.
At the same time, in the Arctic Circle, climate change is causing the forest boundary to shift northward by dozens of meters each year, with bushes taking over wetlands and tundra. Higher temperatures also mean reindeer can not anymore cross the ice to graze Arctic meadows and keep them open. 8 butterfly varieties are facing extinction in this area, including Freyja’s fritillary butterfly and the Arctic ringlet butterfly.
“The greatest environment for all these pollinators is grassland rich in flowers and that is declining quickly across Europe because of all these reasons,” remarked a lead coordinator for the butterfly assessment. “The positive thing is that so many individuals are concerned now and there’s a lot more consciousness. Under the EU’s nature restoration regulation, all participating nations have to reverse the decline in pollinating insects by the year 2030, and they are going to have to initiate measures. There are land holders who are engaged. We hope they can obtain the encouragements that will support them on their way.”
As per the coordinator, there is “low-hanging fruit” in terms of steps for pollinating insects which will not lower crop yields – and may enhance it – such as farmers establishing flower-rich margins around their fields.
EU commissioner for environment, described the conservation status of wild bees, butterflies and other pollinators as “dire”.
“Urgent and collective action is needed to address this risk. Along with member states, the EU Commission has put in place an EU-wide monitoring system for pollinating insects based on the EU nature restoration regulation, which will help to track our development. Now, we need to concentrate on application and partnership with member countries to safeguard our pollinating species,” she said.
The publication of the assessments on bees and butterflies comes after the first European-wide evaluation of hoverflies, another vital pollinating insect category. Released in twenty-twenty-two, it disclosed that 37% of all hoverfly species in the European continent were threatened with extinction.