The number of wild bee types in the European continent facing dying out has more than doubled over the past decade, while the count of endangered butterfly types has almost doubled.
This critical situation for vital pollinating species was revealed by scientific studies for the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) red list, which established that at least one hundred seventy-two bee varieties out of 1,928 were at risk of extinction in the European continent.
The count of butterflies threatened with extinction in European nations has increased from over thirty-five to sixty-five since the previous assessment, carried out 14 years ago. A single species, the large white of Madeira (Pieris wollastoni) has now been confirmed extinct.
In addition to their visual charm and cultural importance, pollinating insects like bees and butterflies are lifelines for our well-being, our food systems and our financial structures – sustaining the produce, vegetables and seeds that nourish us,” stated the IUCN director general. “The latest assessments of the European red list reveal significant difficulties, with threats increasing for butterflies and crucial wild bee types.”
The reasons of the quick recent decreases are the continuing damage or destruction of habitats caused by farming intensification and abandoned land, wetland drainage, overgrazing by livestock, and the application of fertilisers and pesticides including neonicotinoid pesticides. The fragmentation of environments suitable for pollinators significantly raises the threat of disappearances in specific areas.
Global warming is also demonstrated to be a significant danger: Over half of all threatened butterflies in Europe are imperilled by the climate crisis – roughly twofold the amount as a ten years ago.
As many as 90% of blooming plants in European nations rely on pollination by animals, as stated by the wild bee assessment’s lead coordinator. “Sadly, native bee colonies are in severe drop and are not easily replaceable by domesticated hives,” he said. “If wild bees vanish, many native plants might be in danger as well – of which flower-rich meadows and attractive orchid varieties are just a handful of illustrations.”
Fifteen types of bumblebee species, which have an essential part in pollinating legumes like peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and 14 species of cellophane bee species, known for pollinating trees such as willows along with red maples, are now listed as threatened. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee type exclusive to the European continent and the single type of this genus group in European nations, is now assessed as critically at risk – the scientific classification closest to extinction in the wild.
Butterfly species that are only found on high-altitude areas are especially at risk to global heating as they have to climb upward as their living spaces become warmer but in the end run out of space. In the southern part of Spain, the grayling of Nevada and the Andalusian anomalous blue are among above 40 percent of European endemics (exclusive to Europe) at risk of extinction.
In the Mediterranean, types such as the critically endangered Karpathos grayling are endangered by extreme dry conditions and fires.
Meanwhile, in the Far North, global heating is causing the forest boundary to move north by dozens of meters each year, with bushes taking over marsh and tundra. Higher temperatures also mean reindeer can no more cross the ice to feed on Arctic meadows and maintain them clear. 8 butterfly varieties are facing extinction in this zone, including the fritillary of Freyja and the Arctic ringlet butterfly.
“The biggest living space for all these pollinating insects is bloom-filled grassy areas and that is disappearing very fast across European nations because of all these reasons,” remarked one of the lead coordinators of the butterflies assessment. “The good news is that so many people care now and there’s a lot more awareness. Under the European Union nature restoration law, all participating nations have to reverse the decrease in pollinating insects by the year 2030, and they are going to have to initiate measures. There are property owners who are interested. We hope they can obtain the incentives that will help them on their way.”
According to Martin Warren, there is “easy opportunities” in terms of steps for pollinators which will not decrease food production – and could improve it – such as agricultural producers developing margins rich in flowers around their cultivated areas.
EU commissioner for environment, characterized the protection status of native bees, butterflies and additional pollinators as “severe”.
“Prompt and unified steps is necessary to address this risk. In collaboration with member states, the Commission of the European Union has established an European Union-wide monitoring system for pollinators based on the EU nature restoration law, which will aid in following our advancement. Now, we need to concentrate on application and partnership with member states to protect our pollinators,” she said.
The issuance of the assessments on bees and butterflies follows the pioneering Europe-wide assessment of hoverflies, an additional crucial pollinating insect category. Issued in 2022, it revealed that 37% of all hoverfly varieties in the European continent were facing extinction.
