The count of non-managed bee types in the European continent confronting extinction has increased twofold over the past decade, while the total of endangered butterfly types has almost doubled.
This critical situation for essential pollinating insects was revealed by scientific studies for the IUCN red list, which determined that at least 172 bee types out of over 1900 were threatened with extinction in European nations.
The number of butterfly species threatened with extinction in Europe has grown from 37 to over sixty since the last study, performed over a decade past. One type, the Madeiran large white butterfly (Pieris wollastoni) has now been classified as extinct.
“Beyond their beauty and cultural value, pollinating species like bees and butterflies are essential supports for our physical condition, our food chains and our economic systems – supporting the produce, vegetables and seeds that nourish us,” stated the IUCN’s director general. “The newest assessments of the European red list reveal significant difficulties, with risks growing for butterfly species and vital native bee types.”
The factors of the swift recent drops are the continuing harm or degradation of habitats caused by agricultural intensification and land abandonment, draining of wetlands, overgrazing by livestock, and the use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides including neonicotinoids. The division of pollinator-friendly habitat greatly increases the risk of extinctions at local level.
Global heating is also demonstrated to be a significant danger: Fifty-two percent of all endangered butterfly species in European nations are imperilled by the climate crisis – approximately twofold the amount as a ten years ago.
Nearly nine out of ten of blooming plants in Europe depend on insect pollination, according to the lead coordinator of the wild bee assessment. “Sadly, non-managed bee populations are in sharp decrease and cannot readily be substituted by managed colonies,” he said. “If non-managed bees disappear, many wild plants might be in danger as well – of which flower-rich meadows and lovely orchid types are just a handful of illustrations.”
Fifteen types of bumblebees, which perform a vital function in fertilizing peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and fourteen varieties of cellophane bee species, recognized for fertilizing trees such as willows along with red maples, are now classified as threatened. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee unique to the European continent and the single type of this genus in European nations, is now assessed as critically endangered – the scientific category most akin to disappearance in the wild.
Butterfly species that are only found on mountain tops are particularly vulnerable to global warming as they must ascend higher as their habitats become more heated but in the end 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 types unique to Europe (exclusive to Europe) threatened with extinction.
In the Mediterranean region, species such as the highly at-risk Karpathos grayling butterfly are threatened by extreme wildfires and drought.
Meanwhile, in the Arctic region, global heating is leading to the tree line to move north by many meters each year, with scrub invading bog and tundra. Warmer conditions also mean caribou can no longer cross the ice sheets to graze Arctic meadows and maintain them clear. Eight butterfly species are at risk of extinction in this area, including Freyja’s fritillary butterfly and the ringlet of the Arctic.
“The largest living space for all these pollinators is grassland rich in flowers and that is disappearing very fast across Europe because of all these elements,” said Martin Warren. “The good news is that so many citizens are aware now and there’s a lot more consciousness. Under the EU nature restoration legislation, all member states have to reverse the drop in pollinating insects by the year 2030, and they are going to have to begin taking action. There are landowners who are interested. Let’s 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 steps for pollinating insects which won’t reduce food production – and may enhance it – such as farmers developing margins rich in flowers around their fields.
the EU’s environment commissioner, described the preservation condition of native bees, butterflies and additional pollinators as “dire”.
“Prompt and unified steps is required to address this threat. Together with participating nations, the Commission of the European Union has put in place an European Union-wide monitoring system for pollinating insects based on the EU nature restoration law, which will assist in monitoring our progress. Now, we need to concentrate on implementation and collaboration with member states to safeguard our pollinating species,” she said.
The publication of the assessments on bees and butterflies follows the first Europe-wide assessment of hoverflies, a further essential pollinator group. Issued in twenty-twenty-two, it showed that thirty-seven percent of all hoverfly varieties in Europe were facing extinction.
