The count of native bee species in the European continent experiencing dying out has over doubled in the last ten years, and the number of threatened butterfly types has close to doubled.
This dire scenario for vital pollinating insects was disclosed by research studies for the IUCN red list, which established that at least one hundred seventy-two bee types out of 1,928 were at risk of extinction in European nations.
The count of butterfly types at risk of extinction in the European continent has increased from 37 to over sixty since the last study, carried out 14 years ago. One type, the large white of Madeira (Pieris wollastoni) has now been confirmed extinct.
“Beyond their visual charm and cultural value, pollinating species like bees and butterflies are essential supports for our health, our food chains and our economic systems – sustaining the fruits, vegetables and seeds that nourish us,” stated the IUCN’s director general. “The latest assessments of the European red list reveal significant difficulties, with risks mounting for butterflies and crucial non-managed bee types.”
The reasons of the rapid recent declines are the persistent damage or destruction of natural habitats caused by intensive agriculture and deserted farmland, wetland drainage, overgrazing by livestock, and the application of fertilisers and pesticides including neonicotinoid pesticides. The fragmentation of pollinator-friendly habitat significantly raises the risk of disappearances in specific areas.
Global heating is also demonstrated to be a significant danger: Fifty-two percent of all endangered butterflies in Europe are threatened by the climate change crisis – roughly double the number as a ten years ago.
As many as 90% of flowering plants in Europe rely on insect pollination, as per the lead coordinator of the wild bee assessment. “Sadly, native bee populations are in drastic decline and are not easily replaceable by managed bee colonies,” he said. “If native bees die out, many non-cultivated plants might be in danger as well – of which meadows rich in flowers and lovely orchid types are just a few examples.”
15 varieties of bumblebee types, which play a crucial role in pollinating crops such as peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and 14 types of cellophane bee types, known for pollinating trees such as willows along with red maples, are now classified as threatened. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee type found only in the continent and the sole species of this genus group in Europe, is now evaluated as severely threatened – the scientific classification nearest to dying out in natural habitats.
Butterfly species that are only found on mountain tops are highly susceptible to global heating as they must ascend higher as their living spaces become more heated but eventually have no room left. 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 (only found in Europe) threatened with extinction.
In the Mediterranean, species such as the severely threatened grayling of Karpathos are threatened by extreme dry conditions and fires.
Meanwhile, in the Far North, global heating is resulting in the forest boundary to shift northward by many meters each year, with scrub encroaching on wetlands and tundra. Warmer conditions also mean caribou can no more cross the frozen water to browse northern grasslands and prevent them from overgrowing. Eight types of butterflies are facing extinction in this zone, including Freyja’s fritillary butterfly and the Arctic ringlet butterfly.
“The biggest environment for all these pollinators is grassland rich in flowers and that is declining quickly across Europe because of all these reasons,” remarked one of the lead coordinators of the butterflies assessment. “The encouraging aspect is that so many individuals are aware now and there’s a lot more consciousness. Under the EU nature restoration legislation, all participating nations have to reverse the decrease in pollinating species by 2030, and they are going to have to start doing something. There are land holders who are interested. Let’s hope they can obtain the encouragements that will support them on their way.”
According to the coordinator, there is “readily achievable actions” in terms of steps for pollinators which will not lower agricultural output – and may enhance it – such as agricultural producers establishing bloom-filled edges around their fields.
Jessika Roswall, characterized the conservation status of wild bees, butterflies and other pollinators as “severe”.
“Urgent and collective action is necessary to tackle this risk. In collaboration with participating nations, the European Commission has implemented an EU-wide monitoring system for pollinating insects based on the EU nature restoration regulation, which will help to track our progress. Now, we need to prioritize execution and collaboration with member countries to protect our pollinating species,” she said.
The issuance of the assessments on bees and butterflies is subsequent to the pioneering Europe-wide assessment of hoverflies, a further vital pollinator group. Issued in twenty-twenty-two, it showed that over one-third of all hoverfly species in the European continent were at risk of extinction.
