The number of native bee species in European nations experiencing disappearance has over doubled over the past decade, while the total of at-risk butterfly has nearly doubled.
This pressing issue for crucial pollinators was unveiled by scientific assessments for the IUCN red list, which determined that at least over 170 bee species out of over 1900 were at risk of extinction in European nations.
The count of butterfly species at risk of extinction in Europe has grown from 37 to sixty-five since the previous assessment, carried out a decade and a half ago. One type, the Madeiran large white butterfly (Pieris wollastoni) has now been declared extinct.
“Beyond their aesthetic appeal and cultural significance, pollinating species like bees and butterfly species are crucial elements for our well-being, our food systems and our economic systems – supporting the produce, vegetables and seeds that nourish us,” commented the IUCN director general. “The newest assessments of the European red list reveal major obstacles, with threats increasing for butterfly species and crucial native bee varieties.”
The causes of the rapid recent declines are the persistent damage or destruction of living environments caused by intensive agriculture and land abandonment, draining of wetlands, livestock overgrazing, and the utilization of pesticides and fertilisers including neonicotinoids. The breaking up of environments suitable for pollinators greatly increases the threat of disappearances in specific areas.
Global warming is also demonstrated to be a major threat: 52% of all threatened butterfly types in Europe are threatened by the climate change crisis – approximately double the number as a ten years ago.
Up to nine out of ten of plants that flower in the European continent rely on animal pollination, as per the lead coordinator of the wild bee assessment. “Regrettably, non-managed bee groups are in sharp decrease and are not easily replaceable by managed bee colonies,” he said. “If wild bees vanish, many wild plants might be threatened too – of which flower-rich meadows and attractive orchid varieties are just a handful of illustrations.”
15 varieties of bumblebees, which perform a vital function in fertilizing crops such as peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and 14 species of cellophane bee species, known for fertilizing trees such as willow trees and red maples, are now listed as threatened. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee type exclusive to the continent and the sole species of this genus in the European continent, is now classified as critically at risk – the scientific classification closest to disappearance in the wild.
Butterflies that are solely present on mountain peaks are highly susceptible to climate change as they need to move uphill as their environments become hotter but ultimately run out of space. In Spain’s southern region, the Nevada grayling butterfly and the Andalusian anomalous blue are among above 40 percent of types unique to Europe (solely present in Europe) facing extinction.
In the Mediterranean, species such as the critically endangered Karpathos grayling butterfly are threatened by intense dry conditions and fires.
Meanwhile, in the Far North, global warming is resulting in the timberline to advance northwards by many meters each year, with underbrush invading wetlands and tundra. Hotter climates also mean reindeer can not anymore cross the ice sheets to graze northern grasslands and prevent them from overgrowing. 8 butterfly varieties are facing extinction in this area, including Freyja’s fritillary and the ringlet of the Arctic.
“The greatest living space for all these pollinators is flower-rich grassland and that is declining quickly throughout European nations because of all these factors,” said Martin Warren. “The encouraging aspect is that so many individuals are aware now and there’s a lot more awareness. Under the European Union nature restoration law, all participating nations have to reverse the decline in pollinating insects by 2030, and they are going to have to initiate measures. There are property owners who are involved. We hope they can obtain the incentives that will help them on their way.”
As per Martin Warren, there is “low-hanging fruit” in terms of steps for pollinating insects which won’t reduce agricultural output – and may enhance it – such as farmers establishing bloom-filled edges around their cultivated areas.
Jessika Roswall, described the preservation condition of non-managed bees, butterfly species and other pollinating insects as “critical”.
“Prompt and unified steps is required to address this danger. Together with participating nations, the European Commission has implemented an EU-wide monitoring system for pollinating species based on the EU nature restoration regulation, which will help to track our development. Now, we need to focus on application and collaboration with member countries to safeguard our pollinators,” she said.
The issuance of the bee and butterfly assessments follows the initial European-wide evaluation of hoverflies, an additional vital pollinating insect category. Issued in 2022, it revealed that 37% of all hoverfly varieties in the European continent were threatened with extinction.
