The total of wild bee species in Europe facing disappearance has more than doubled during the previous ten-year period, and the count of threatened butterfly species has nearly doubled.
This pressing issue for crucial pollinators was unveiled by scientific studies for the red list of threatened species, which established that at least 172 bee types out of over 1900 were at risk of extinction in Europe.
The total of butterflies at risk of extinction in European nations has risen from thirty-seven to over sixty since the earlier research, carried out a decade and a half ago. One species, the Madeiran large white (Pieris wollastoni) has now been confirmed extinct.
Apart from their aesthetic appeal and cultural significance, pollinating insects like bees and butterfly species are lifelines for our well-being, our food systems and our economies – supporting the fruits, vegetables and seeds that sustain us,” stated the IUCN director general. “The most recent assessments of the European red list reveal serious challenges, with threats growing for butterfly types and crucial wild bee types.”
The causes of the rapid recent declines are the ongoing destruction or damage of habitats caused by agricultural intensification and deserted farmland, wetland drainage, overgrazing by livestock, and the utilization of chemical fertilisers and pesticides including neonicotinoids. The division of pollinator-friendly habitat substantially boosts the risk of extinctions at local level.
Global warming is also demonstrated to be a primary risk: 52% of all at-risk butterfly types in Europe are endangered by the climate emergency – roughly double the number as a ten years ago.
Up to 90% of plants that flower in Europe require animal pollination, according to Dr Denis Michez. “Sadly, wild bee groups are in severe drop and cannot be easily replaced by domesticated hives,” he said. “If non-managed bees disappear, many native plants might be at risk too – of which flower-rich meadows and attractive orchid varieties are just a handful of illustrations.”
Fifteen species of bumblebee types, which play a crucial role in fertilizing peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and fourteen varieties of cellophane bees, recognized for fertilizing trees such as willows and red maples, are now listed as threatened. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee exclusive to the continent and the only species of this genus in Europe, is now classified as critically endangered – the scientific classification closest to extinction in the wild.
Butterflies that are exclusively located on mountain peaks are particularly vulnerable to global warming as they have to climb upward as their living spaces become more heated but eventually run out of space. In the southern part of Spain, the grayling of Nevada and the Andalusian anomalous blue are among over forty percent of species endemic to Europe (solely present in Europe) at risk of extinction.
In the Mediterranean region, species such as the severely threatened Karpathos grayling are threatened by extreme drought and wildfires.
Meanwhile, in the Far North, climate change is resulting in the tree line to shift northward by tens of metres each year, with underbrush encroaching on marsh and tundra. Hotter climates also mean caribou can no more cross the ice sheets to browse Arctic grasslands and prevent them from overgrowing. 8 butterfly varieties are facing extinction in this area, including Freyja’s fritillary butterfly and the Arctic ringlet butterfly.
“The biggest living space for all these pollinators is bloom-filled grassy areas and that is declining quickly in the European continent because of all these factors,” stated Martin Warren. “The encouraging aspect is that so many citizens are aware now and there’s a lot more consciousness. Under the European Union nature restoration law, all participating nations have to reverse the drop in pollinating species by the year 2030, and they are going to have to begin taking action. There are land holders who are engaged. It is hoped they can get the motivations that will assist them on their way.”
As stated by Martin Warren, there is “low-hanging fruit” in terms of action for pollinating species which will not decrease agricultural output – and might boost it – such as farmers creating margins rich in flowers around their cultivated areas.
Jessika Roswall, described the protection status of wild bees, butterflies and other pollinators as “severe”.
“Immediate and joint measures is required to address this danger. Along with member countries, the EU Commission has established an Europe-wide monitoring system for pollinating species based on the EU nature restoration law, which will help to track our progress. Now, we need to prioritize application and collaboration with member states to protect our pollinating species,” she said.
The publication of the evaluations of bees along with butterflies is subsequent to the pioneering European-wide study on hoverflies, another crucial group of pollinators. Issued in twenty-twenty-two, it revealed that over one-third of all hoverfly species in the European continent were threatened with extinction.
