The count of non-managed bee species in Europe confronting disappearance has increased twofold over the past decade, whereas the number of at-risk butterfly types has nearly doubled.
This pressing issue for crucial pollinators was unveiled by research studies for the IUCN red list, which determined that at least over 170 bee species out of over 1900 were facing extinction in Europe.
The number of butterflies at risk of extinction in European nations has grown from over thirty-five to sixty-five since the last study, carried out 14 years ago. One type, the Madeiran large white butterfly (Pieris wollastoni) has now been declared extinct.
Apart from their aesthetic appeal and cultural significance, pollinators like bees and butterflies are essential supports for our well-being, our food systems and our economies – sustaining the fruits, vegetables and seeds that nourish us,” commented the IUCN’s director general. “The newest assessments of the European red list reveal serious challenges, with dangers mounting for butterfly types and crucial native bee types.”
The factors of the swift recent drops are the persistent destruction or damage of natural habitats caused by intensive agriculture and abandoned land, draining of wetlands, livestock overgrazing, and the utilization of fertilisers and pesticides including neonicotinoids. The fragmentation of environments suitable for pollinators substantially boosts the danger of local extinctions.
Global warming is also shown to be a primary risk: Over half of all endangered butterfly species in the European continent are imperilled by the climate change crisis – about twice as many as a decade ago.
Nearly ninety percent of blooming plants in Europe depend on pollination by animals, as stated by the wild bee assessment’s lead coordinator. “Unfortunately, native bee populations are in severe drop and cannot be easily replaced by managed colonies,” he said. “If wild bees vanish, many wild plants might be at risk too – of which flower-rich meadows and lovely orchid types are just a few examples.”
Fifteen species of bumblebee types, which have an essential part in pollinating legumes like peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and 14 types of cellophane bees, known for fertilizing trees such as willow trees and red maples, are now categorized as at-risk. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee type unique to the continent and the single type of this genus in European nations, is now assessed as critically at risk – the scientific classification nearest to dying out in natural habitats.
Butterflies that are only found on mountain peaks are especially at risk to climate change as they need to move uphill as their habitats become hotter but ultimately have no room left. In southern Spain, the Nevada grayling and the Andalusian anomalous blue butterfly are among over forty percent of types unique to Europe (only found in Europe) at risk of extinction.
In the Mediterranean, varieties such as the critically endangered Karpathos grayling are endangered by severe wildfires and drought.
In the meantime, in the Arctic Circle, climate change is leading to the tree line to shift northward by tens of metres each year, with scrub taking over marsh and tundra. Hotter climates also mean caribou can no longer cross the frozen water to feed on Arctic grasslands and keep them open. 8 butterfly varieties are threatened with extinction in this area, including the fritillary of Freyja and the Arctic ringlet butterfly.
“The biggest habitat for all these pollinating insects is flower-rich grassland and that is disappearing very fast in Europe because of all these factors,” said Martin Warren. “The encouraging aspect is that so many individuals care now and there’s a lot more consciousness. Under the EU’s nature restoration regulation, all member states have to turn around the decline in pollinators by twenty-thirty, and they are going to have to begin taking action. There are property owners who are interested. It is hoped they can get the motivations that will help them on their way.”
According to the coordinator, there is “readily achievable actions” in terms of steps for pollinators which will not lower food production – and could improve it – such as growers creating flower-rich margins around their cultivated areas.
EU commissioner for environment, portrayed the preservation condition of wild bees, butterflies and other pollinators as “critical”.
“Prompt and unified steps is necessary to confront this risk. In collaboration with member states, the European Commission has established an European Union-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 execution and partnership with member states to preserve our pollinating insects,” she said.
The release of the assessments on bees and butterflies follows the pioneering EU-wide evaluation of hoverflies, another vital group of pollinators. Published in 2022, it showed that 37% of all hoverfly species in Europe were at risk of extinction.
