The count of native bee species in European nations experiencing extinction has more than doubled over the past decade, and the count of endangered butterfly has nearly doubled.
This dire scenario for essential pollinating species was revealed by research studies for the red list of threatened species, which determined that at least 172 bee species out of over 1900 were at risk of extinction in Europe.
The number of butterflies facing extinction in European nations has risen from 37 to 65 since the earlier research, conducted a decade and a half ago. One type, the large white of Madeira (Pieris wollastoni) has now been classified as extinct.
Apart from their visual charm and cultural importance, pollinating species like bees along with butterflies are crucial elements for our health, our food systems and our economic systems – supporting the fruits, veggies and seeds that feed us,” commented the IUCN’s director general. “The most recent European red list evaluations reveal serious challenges, with risks increasing for butterfly species and vital wild bee varieties.”
The causes of the rapid recent declines are the continuing harm or degradation of natural habitats caused by agricultural intensification and land abandonment, draining wetlands, overgrazing by livestock, and the use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides including neonicotinoid chemicals. The fragmentation of habitat friendly to pollinators substantially boosts the danger of local extinctions.
Global heating is also revealed to be a primary risk: Over half of all endangered butterfly types in European nations are threatened by the climate change crisis – approximately twice as many as a ten years ago.
Nearly nine out of ten of flowering plants in European nations depend on insect pollination, according to Dr Denis Michez. “Regrettably, wild bee populations are in drastic decline and cannot be easily replaced by managed colonies,” he said. “If native bees disappear, many native plants might be at risk too – of which flower-rich meadows and attractive orchid varieties are just a handful of illustrations.”
Fifteen species of bumblebees, which perform a vital function in aiding the pollination of peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and fourteen varieties of cellophane bees, famous for fertilizing trees such as willows and red maples, are now classified as threatened. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee species unique to the European continent and the only species of this genus in European nations, is now assessed as critically at risk – the scientific classification closest to dying out in natural habitats.
Butterfly types that are exclusively located on high-altitude areas are highly susceptible to global heating as they need to move uphill as their environments become warmer but ultimately exhaust available space. In southern Spain, the grayling of Nevada and the Andalusian anomalous blue butterfly are among more than 40% of types unique to Europe (exclusive to Europe) threatened with extinction.
In the Mediterranean, species such as the severely threatened grayling of Karpathos are endangered by severe dry conditions and fires.
In the meantime, in the Arctic Circle, climate change is leading to the tree line to advance northwards by tens of metres each year, with underbrush taking over bog and tundra. Higher temperatures also mean Arctic deer can no more cross the ice to feed on northern grasslands and prevent them from overgrowing. 8 butterfly varieties are at risk of extinction in this area, including Freyja’s fritillary and the ringlet of the Arctic.
“The biggest environment for all these pollinating species is bloom-filled grassy areas and that is vanishing rapidly throughout European nations because of all these factors,” stated a lead coordinator for the butterfly assessment. “The positive thing is that so many citizens are aware now and there’s a lot more awareness. Under the European Union nature restoration law, all member states have to halt the decline in pollinators by twenty-thirty, and they are going to have to initiate measures. There are property owners who are interested. Let’s hope they can get the incentives that will assist them on their way.”
According to Martin Warren, there is “easy opportunities” in terms of steps for pollinating insects which will not lower crop yields – and may enhance it – such as growers developing bloom-filled edges around their fields.
EU commissioner for environment, characterized the protection status of non-managed bees, butterfly species and other pollinating insects as “severe”.
“Prompt and unified steps is necessary to confront this threat. Along with participating nations, the European Commission has established an Europe-wide tracking system for pollinating insects based on the EU nature restoration regulation, which will assist in monitoring our progress. Now, we need to prioritize execution and collaboration with participating nations to safeguard our pollinators,” she said.
The publication of the assessments on bees and butterflies comes after the first EU-wide assessment of hoverflies, another crucial pollinating insect category. Published in 2022, it disclosed that thirty-seven percent of all hoverfly species in the European continent were at risk of extinction.
