The number of native bee varieties in Europe confronting extinction has more than doubled during the previous ten-year period, and the total of threatened butterfly species has close to doubled.
This pressing issue for essential pollinators was unveiled by scientific studies for the IUCN red list, which found that at least over 170 bee types out of 1,928 were facing extinction in Europe.
The total of butterfly species facing extinction in the European continent has increased from 37 to over sixty since the previous assessment, conducted over a decade past. One species, the Madeiran large white butterfly (Pieris wollastoni) has now been declared extinct.
“Beyond their visual charm and cultural importance, pollinators like bees and butterfly species are lifelines for our physical condition, our food chains and our economies – sustaining the fruits, veggies and seeds that feed us,” stated the IUCN director general. “The latest European red list assessments reveal significant difficulties, with dangers growing for butterflies and crucial non-managed bee types.”
The factors of the swift recent drops are the continuing damage or destruction of living environments caused by intensive agriculture and abandoned land, draining wetlands, overgrazing by livestock, and the application of fertilisers and pesticides including neonicotinoid chemicals. The fragmentation of environments suitable for pollinators significantly raises the threat of local extinctions.
Global warming is also shown to be a major threat: Over half of all at-risk butterflies in European nations are threatened by the climate crisis – about twice as many as a previous decade.
Up to nine out of ten of blooming plants in Europe rely on animal pollination, as per Dr Denis Michez. “Sadly, wild bee colonies are in drastic decline and are not easily replaceable by managed bee colonies,” he said. “If non-managed bees die out, many non-cultivated plants might be in danger as well – of which bloom-filled grasslands and beautiful orchid species are just a couple of instances.”
15 varieties of bumblebees, which have an essential part in fertilizing legumes like peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and 14 types of cellophane bees, famous for pollinating trees such as willow trees and red maples, are now classified as threatened. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee found only in the continent and the sole species of this biological genus in the European continent, is now assessed as critically endangered – the scientific classification closest to dying out in natural habitats.
Butterfly species that are solely present on mountain peaks are especially at risk to global warming as they must ascend higher as their environments become hotter but in the end have no room left. In Spain’s southern region, the grayling of Nevada and the Andalusian anomalous blue are among more than 40% of species endemic to Europe (solely present in Europe) threatened with extinction.
In the Mediterranean region, species such as the highly at-risk Karpathos grayling are endangered by intense wildfires and drought.
At the same time, in the Arctic Circle, global heating is leading to the tree line to shift northward by many meters each year, with underbrush encroaching on marsh and tundra. Higher temperatures also mean Arctic deer can no longer cross the frozen water to browse northern grasslands and maintain them clear. Eight butterfly species are threatened with extinction in this area, including Freyja’s fritillary butterfly and the Arctic ringlet butterfly.
“The greatest environment for all these pollinating insects is grassland rich in flowers and that is vanishing rapidly throughout European nations because of all these elements,” remarked Martin Warren. “The encouraging aspect is that so many people care now and there’s a lot more consciousness. Under the EU nature restoration legislation, all member states have to turn around the drop in pollinating insects by 2030, and they are going to have to start doing something. There are landowners who are interested. We hope they can get the motivations that will support them on their way.”
As per the coordinator, there is “low-hanging fruit” in terms of measures for pollinating insects which will not lower food production – and may enhance it – such as agricultural producers creating margins rich in flowers around their cultivated areas.
Jessika Roswall, portrayed the protection status of native bees, butterflies and additional pollinators as “severe”.
“Prompt and unified steps is necessary to address this threat. Together with member states, the Commission of the European Union has implemented an EU-wide observation system for pollinating species based on the EU nature restoration regulation, which will help to track our development. Now, we need to prioritize implementation and cooperation with member countries to protect our pollinating species,” she said.
The release of the bee and butterfly assessments follows the first European-wide assessment of hoverflies, another crucial pollinating insect category. Issued in 2022, it revealed that thirty-seven percent of all hoverfly species in European nations were threatened with extinction.
