The number of wild bee species in the European continent experiencing dying out has more than doubled in the last ten years, and the total of threatened butterfly species has almost doubled.
This pressing issue for crucial pollinating insects was disclosed by scientific assessments for the IUCN red list, which determined that at least 172 bee species out of over 1900 were at risk of extinction in the European continent.
The total of butterflies threatened with extinction in the European continent has grown from over thirty-five to 65 since the earlier research, conducted 14 years ago. One species, the Madeiran large white butterfly (Pieris wollastoni) has now been confirmed extinct.
“Beyond their visual charm and cultural value, pollinating species like bees and butterfly species are essential supports for our well-being, our food supplies and our financial structures – sustaining the fruits, vegetables and seeds that nourish us,” stated the IUCN director general. “The most recent assessments of the European red list reveal serious challenges, with dangers growing for butterflies and vital native bee varieties.”
The factors of the quick recent decreases are the continuing destruction or damage of habitats caused by intensive agriculture and abandoned land, wetland drainage, overgrazing by livestock, and the application of fertilisers and pesticides including neonicotinoid chemicals. The breaking up of pollinator-friendly habitat significantly raises the risk of local extinctions.
Global warming is also demonstrated to be a major threat: Over half of all threatened butterfly species in the European continent are imperilled by the climate emergency – roughly double the number as a previous decade.
As many as 90% of plants that flower in the European continent depend on insect pollination, as per Dr Denis Michez. “Unfortunately, native bee colonies are in severe drop and cannot be easily replaced by managed bee colonies,” he said. “If native bees die out, many wild plants might be in danger as well – of which flower-rich meadows and attractive orchid varieties are just a handful of illustrations.”
Fifteen species of bumblebee types, which play a crucial role in aiding the pollination of crops such as peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and 14 types of cellophane bee types, recognized for pollinating trees such as willow trees and red maples, are now classified as threatened. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee exclusive to the mainland and the sole species of this genus group in Europe, is now classified as critically at risk – the research category nearest to dying out in natural habitats.
Butterflies that are exclusively located on mountain peaks are highly susceptible to global warming as they must ascend higher as their environments become warmer but in the end have no room left. In southern Spain, the Nevada grayling butterfly and the Andalusian anomalous blue are among over forty percent of European endemics (solely present in Europe) at risk of extinction.
In the Mediterranean region, species such as the critically endangered Karpathos grayling are threatened by intense dry conditions and fires.
Meanwhile, in the Far North, global warming is resulting in the forest boundary to move north by many meters each year, with scrub invading bog and tundra. Warmer conditions also mean reindeer can no more cross the ice to graze northern grasslands and keep them open. 8 butterfly varieties are threatened with extinction in this area, including Freyja’s fritillary and the Arctic ringlet.
“The largest habitat for all these pollinators is flower-rich grassland and that is vanishing rapidly across the European continent because of all these elements,” said one of the lead coordinators of the butterflies assessment. “The encouraging aspect is that so many people are concerned now and there’s a lot more awareness. Under the EU’s nature restoration regulation, all participating nations have to turn around the decline in pollinating species by twenty-thirty, and they are going to have to begin taking action. There are property owners who are engaged. Let’s hope they can get the motivations that will help them on their way.”
According to the coordinator, there is “readily achievable actions” in terms of action for pollinating insects which won’t reduce agricultural output – and may enhance it – such as growers creating bloom-filled edges around their farmland.
EU commissioner for environment, characterized the conservation status of wild bees, butterflies and other pollinators as “critical”.
“Immediate and joint measures is required to address this danger. Together with participating nations, the European Commission has implemented an European Union-wide observation system for pollinating species based on the EU nature restoration law, which will assist in monitoring our progress. Now, we need to prioritize implementation and partnership with member states to safeguard our pollinators,” she said.
The release of the bee and butterfly assessments follows the initial Europe-wide assessment of hoverflies, an additional vital pollinator group. Released in 2022, it disclosed that over one-third of all hoverfly species in the European continent were facing extinction.
