The total of non-managed bee species in European nations experiencing dying out has increased twofold over the past decade, whereas the total of endangered butterfly species has almost doubled.
This critical situation for vital pollinating species was revealed by research studies for the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) red list, which determined that at least over 170 bee varieties out of nearly two thousand were facing extinction in Europe.
The count of butterfly types at risk of extinction in the European continent has grown from thirty-seven to sixty-five since the previous assessment, conducted a decade and a half ago. One type, the Madeiran large white (Pieris wollastoni) has now been declared extinct.
In addition to their beauty and cultural significance, pollinators like bees and butterfly species are essential supports for our physical condition, our food supplies and our economies – sustaining the produce, vegetables and seeds that feed us,” said the IUCN director general. “The newest European red list evaluations reveal significant difficulties, with dangers growing for butterfly species and vital native bee types.”
The reasons of the rapid recent declines are the ongoing destruction or damage of living environments caused by agricultural intensification and deserted farmland, wetland drainage, overgrazing by livestock, and the application of chemical fertilisers and pesticides including neonicotinoids. The division of habitat friendly to pollinators greatly increases the risk of local extinctions.
Global heating is also demonstrated to be a primary risk: Fifty-two percent of all threatened butterfly types in the European continent are threatened by the climate change crisis – roughly double the number as a previous decade.
As many as 90% of flowering plants in European nations depend on pollination by animals, as stated by the wild bee assessment’s lead coordinator. “Regrettably, wild bee colonies are in sharp decrease and are not easily replaceable by managed bee colonies,” he said. “If non-managed bees disappear, many non-cultivated plants might be threatened too – of which flower-rich meadows and beautiful orchid species are just a handful of illustrations.”
Fifteen types of bumblebee species, which have an essential part in aiding the pollination of crops such as peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and 14 types of cellophane bee species, recognized for pollinating trees such as willow trees and red maples, are now categorized as at-risk. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee type exclusive to the European continent and the single type of this genus in European nations, is now evaluated as critically at risk – the scientific category most akin to disappearance in the wild.
Butterfly types that are solely present on mountain peaks are particularly vulnerable to global warming as they need to move uphill as their living spaces become hotter but in the end have no room left. In the southern part of Spain, the Nevada grayling and the anomalous blue of Andalusia are among more than 40% of European endemics (exclusive to Europe) threatened with extinction.
In the Mediterranean area, varieties such as the critically endangered grayling of Karpathos are threatened by extreme drought and wildfires.
Meanwhile, in the Arctic Circle, global heating is resulting in the tree line to move north by tens of metres each year, with bushes invading wetlands and tundra. Higher temperatures also mean Arctic deer can no longer cross the frozen water to feed on Arctic meadows and prevent them from overgrowing. 8 butterfly varieties are threatened with extinction in this region, including the fritillary of Freyja and the Arctic ringlet butterfly.
“The biggest living space for all these pollinating species is bloom-filled grassy areas and that is vanishing rapidly across European nations because of all these elements,” said a lead coordinator for the butterfly assessment. “The good news is that so many individuals care now and there’s a lot more consciousness. Under the EU’s nature restoration regulation, all participating nations have to halt the decrease in pollinating species by twenty-thirty, and they are going to have to initiate measures. There are landowners who are interested. It is hoped they can receive the motivations that will help them on their way.”
As stated by Martin Warren, there is “readily achievable actions” in terms of steps for pollinators which will not lower food production – and could improve it – such as agricultural producers creating 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 “dire”.
“Urgent and collective action is required to address this threat. Together with member countries, the European Commission has established an European Union-wide observation system for pollinating species based on the European Union nature restoration legislation, which will help to track our development. Now, we need to focus on implementation and cooperation with participating nations to preserve our pollinating species,” she said.
The publication of the evaluations of bees along with butterflies is subsequent to the initial European-wide assessment of hoverflies, a further crucial pollinating insect category. Issued in 2022, it disclosed that 37% of all hoverfly types in Europe were at risk of extinction.
