The number of non-managed bee types in Europe experiencing extinction has increased twofold over the past decade, whereas the total of endangered butterfly types has almost doubled.
This critical situation for crucial pollinating insects was disclosed by scientific studies for the IUCN red list, which found that at least one hundred seventy-two bee varieties out of 1,928 were threatened with extinction in Europe.
The count of butterfly species facing extinction in European nations has risen from 37 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 declared extinct.
In addition to their aesthetic appeal and cultural significance, pollinating species like bees along with butterflies are essential supports for our physical condition, our food supplies and our economic systems – supporting the fruits, veggies and seeds that feed us,” stated the IUCN’s director general. “The most recent European red list assessments reveal major obstacles, with dangers growing for butterfly species and crucial non-managed bee varieties.”
The causes of the quick recent decreases are the persistent destruction or damage of living environments caused by agricultural intensification and deserted farmland, wetland drainage, excessive grazing by animals, and the application of pesticides and fertilisers including neonicotinoids. The fragmentation of pollinator-friendly habitat significantly raises the threat of local extinctions.
Global heating is also shown to be a primary risk: Over half of all at-risk butterflies in Europe are threatened by the climate emergency – approximately double the number as a decade ago.
Nearly 90% of plants that flower in the European continent require insect pollination, as per the wild bee assessment’s lead coordinator. “Sadly, wild bee colonies are in drastic decline and cannot readily be substituted by managed colonies,” he said. “If wild bees vanish, many non-cultivated plants might be in danger as well – of which flower-rich meadows and beautiful orchid species are just a handful of illustrations.”
Fifteen species of bumblebee species, which play a crucial role in fertilizing crops such as peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and fourteen varieties of cellophane bee types, famous for fertilizing trees such as willow trees and red maples, are now classified as threatened. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee species exclusive to the European continent and the only species of this genus in the European continent, is now assessed as critically endangered – the scientific category most akin to dying out in natural habitats.
Butterfly types that are only found on mountain peaks are especially at risk to global warming as they have to climb upward as their habitats become hotter but ultimately exhaust available space. In Spain’s southern region, the Nevada grayling and the anomalous blue of Andalusia are among over forty percent of types unique to Europe (only found in Europe) at risk of extinction.
In the Mediterranean area, varieties such as the severely threatened Karpathos grayling butterfly are threatened by extreme drought and wildfires.
At the same time, in the Arctic region, global warming is leading to the timberline to advance northwards by many meters each year, with bushes invading marsh and tundra. Warmer conditions also mean reindeer can no longer cross the frozen water to graze Arctic meadows and prevent them from overgrowing. Eight types of butterflies are facing extinction in this area, including the fritillary of Freyja and the ringlet of the Arctic.
“The biggest living space for all these pollinators is bloom-filled grassy areas and that is declining quickly across the European continent because of all these elements,” said a lead coordinator for the butterfly assessment. “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 member states have to turn around the decrease in pollinating species by 2030, and they are going to have to start doing something. There are property owners who are involved. Let’s hope they can get the motivations that will support them on their way.”
As stated by Warren, there is “readily achievable actions” in terms of action for pollinating species which will not decrease agricultural output – and could improve it – such as growers establishing flower-rich margins around their cultivated areas.
the EU’s environment commissioner, portrayed the protection status of non-managed bees, butterfly species and other pollinating insects as “dire”.
“Urgent and collective action is necessary to confront this danger. Together with member states, the EU Commission has implemented an European Union-wide tracking system for pollinating species based on the EU nature restoration law, which will help to track our advancement. Now, we need to prioritize implementation and cooperation with member states to preserve our pollinating insects,” she said.
The publication of the bee and butterfly assessments follows the first European-wide evaluation of hoverflies, an additional vital pollinating insect category. Issued in 2022, it showed that thirty-seven percent of all hoverfly varieties in Europe were facing extinction.
