The total of native bee types in European nations facing extinction has more than doubled during the previous ten-year period, and the total of at-risk butterfly has close to doubled.
This dire scenario for essential pollinating species was revealed by research studies for the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) red list, which determined that at least 172 bee varieties out of 1,928 were at risk of extinction in European nations.
The number of butterfly types facing extinction in Europe has risen from thirty-seven to 65 since the previous assessment, performed 14 years ago. One species, the Madeiran large white butterfly (Pieris wollastoni) has now been confirmed extinct.
“Beyond their aesthetic appeal and cultural significance, pollinators like bees and butterflies are crucial elements for our health, our food chains and our economic systems – sustaining the fruits, veggies and seeds that feed us,” said Grethel Aguilar. “The latest assessments of the European red list reveal serious challenges, with dangers increasing for butterfly types and vital wild bee varieties.”
The factors of the rapid recent declines are the persistent damage or destruction of living environments caused by agricultural intensification and land abandonment, draining of wetlands, excessive grazing by animals, and the application of pesticides and fertilisers including neonicotinoid chemicals. The breaking up of environments suitable for pollinators greatly increases the risk of extinctions at local level.
Global warming is also revealed to be a significant danger: 52% of all threatened butterfly types in the European continent are endangered by the climate change crisis – about twofold the amount as a previous decade.
Up to ninety percent of plants that flower in the European continent require insect pollination, according to Dr Denis Michez. “Unfortunately, native bee colonies are in severe drop and cannot readily be substituted by managed colonies,” he said. “If native bees vanish, many wild plants might be at risk too – of which bloom-filled grasslands and lovely orchid types are just a few examples.”
Fifteen species of bumblebees, which have an essential part in pollinating peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and 14 types of cellophane bee species, recognized for aiding tree pollination such as willows and red maples, are now categorized as at-risk. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee type unique to the European continent and the sole species of this genus group in European nations, is now assessed as critically at risk – the research category closest to disappearance in the wild.
Butterfly types that are only found on high-altitude areas are especially at risk to global warming as they must ascend higher as their environments become hotter but eventually have no room left. In Spain’s southern region, the grayling of Nevada and the Andalusian anomalous blue butterfly are among over forty percent of species endemic to Europe (only found in Europe) facing extinction.
In the Mediterranean, types such as the highly at-risk Karpathos grayling are endangered by extreme dry conditions and fires.
At the same time, in the Arctic Circle, climate change is leading to the timberline to move north by tens of metres each year, with underbrush encroaching on wetlands and tundra. Warmer conditions also mean caribou can not anymore cross the ice to browse northern grasslands and prevent them from overgrowing. Eight butterfly species are at risk of extinction in this region, including Freyja’s fritillary and the ringlet of the Arctic.
“The biggest habitat for all these pollinating species is grassland rich in flowers and that is declining quickly throughout Europe because of all these elements,” stated a lead coordinator for the butterfly assessment. “The positive thing is that so many citizens care now and there’s a lot more understanding. Under the EU’s nature restoration regulation, all member countries have to halt the decrease in pollinating insects by the year 2030, and they are going to have to begin taking action. There are land holders who are interested. Let’s hope they can get the incentives that will help them on their way.”
As per Warren, there is “readily achievable actions” in terms of action for pollinating insects which will not decrease agricultural output – and may enhance it – such as agricultural producers creating bloom-filled edges around their cultivated areas.
EU commissioner for environment, portrayed the conservation status of native bees, butterflies and additional pollinators as “dire”.
“Urgent and collective action is necessary to tackle this threat. Along with member countries, the EU Commission has established an European Union-wide tracking system for pollinating species based on the European Union nature restoration legislation, which will assist in monitoring our development. Now, we need to focus on application and cooperation with member states to preserve our pollinating insects,” she said.
The issuance of the assessments on bees and butterflies is subsequent to the initial Europe-wide evaluation of hoverflies, another vital pollinator group. Released in 2022, it revealed that 37% of all hoverfly varieties in European nations were threatened with extinction.
