The total of non-managed bee types in Europe confronting extinction has increased twofold over the past decade, and the total of at-risk butterfly has almost doubled.
This pressing issue for crucial pollinating species was revealed by scientific assessments for the IUCN red list, which determined that at least over 170 bee species out of over 1900 were at risk of extinction in European nations.
The number of butterfly species threatened with extinction in Europe has grown from 37 to sixty-five since the earlier research, carried out over a decade past. One species, the Madeiran large white butterfly (Pieris wollastoni) has now been confirmed extinct.
Apart from their aesthetic appeal and cultural significance, pollinating insects like bees and butterflies are essential supports for our physical condition, our food supplies and our economies – supporting the fruits, veggies and seeds that feed us,” said the IUCN’s director general. “The most recent European red list assessments reveal major obstacles, with risks growing for butterfly species and essential native bee species.”
The causes of the swift recent drops are the persistent damage or destruction of natural habitats caused by farming intensification and abandoned land, wetland drainage, excessive grazing by animals, and the utilization of chemical fertilisers and pesticides including neonicotinoid pesticides. The breaking up of environments suitable for pollinators significantly raises the danger of disappearances in specific areas.
Global warming is also shown to be a primary risk: Over half of all threatened butterfly types in Europe are imperilled by the climate emergency – approximately twofold the amount as a ten years ago.
Nearly nine out of ten of flowering plants in Europe rely on pollination by animals, according to the wild bee assessment’s lead coordinator. “Regrettably, native bee colonies are in severe drop and cannot readily be substituted by managed bee colonies,” he said. “If non-managed bees die out, many wild plants might be at risk too – of which bloom-filled grasslands and attractive orchid varieties are just a couple of instances.”
Fifteen species of bumblebee species, which play a crucial role in aiding the pollination of peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and fourteen varieties of cellophane bee species, recognized for fertilizing trees such as willow trees and red maples, are now listed as threatened. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee exclusive to the continent and the sole species of this genus in Europe, is now classified as critically endangered – the scientific category most akin to disappearance in the wild.
Butterfly types that are solely present on mountain peaks are highly susceptible to global heating as they have to climb upward as their living spaces become warmer but ultimately have no room left. In the southern part of Spain, the Nevada grayling butterfly and the Andalusian anomalous blue butterfly are among above 40 percent of species endemic to Europe (exclusive to Europe) at risk of extinction.
In the Mediterranean, species such as the highly at-risk Karpathos grayling butterfly are imperilled by intense wildfires and drought.
In the meantime, in the Arctic region, global warming is causing the timberline to shift northward by many meters each year, with bushes encroaching on wetlands and tundra. Warmer conditions also mean caribou can no more cross the ice sheets to graze northern grasslands and keep them open. Eight types of butterflies are facing extinction in this area, including the fritillary of Freyja and the Arctic ringlet.
“The greatest environment for all these pollinating species is bloom-filled grassy areas and that is disappearing very fast across the European continent because of all these factors,” remarked one of the lead coordinators of the butterflies assessment. “The encouraging aspect is that so many individuals are concerned now and there’s a lot more awareness. Under the EU nature restoration legislation, 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 interested. We hope they can get the motivations that will help them on their way.”
As per the coordinator, there is “easy opportunities” in terms of measures for pollinating species which will not lower crop yields – and may enhance it – such as farmers establishing margins rich in flowers around their fields.
EU commissioner for environment, characterized the preservation condition of native bees, butterflies and additional pollinators as “severe”.
“Prompt and unified steps is necessary to address this danger. Along with participating nations, the European Commission has established an European Union-wide monitoring system for pollinators based on the EU nature restoration law, which will aid in following our development. Now, we need to focus on implementation and collaboration with member states to protect our pollinating species,” she said.
The issuance of the bee and butterfly assessments follows the initial Europe-wide study on hoverflies, a further crucial pollinator group. Published in 2022, it showed that 37% of all hoverfly types in European nations were at risk of extinction.
