The number of native bee species in Europe facing disappearance has over doubled during the previous ten-year period, whereas the total of threatened butterfly types has close to doubled.
This critical situation for crucial pollinating species was disclosed by scientific assessments for the red list of threatened species, which determined that at least one hundred seventy-two bee varieties out of nearly two thousand were facing extinction in the European continent.
The count of butterflies threatened with extinction in the European continent has risen from 37 to sixty-five since the previous assessment, conducted 14 years ago. A single species, the Madeiran large white (Pieris wollastoni) has now been classified as extinct.
Apart from their aesthetic appeal and cultural significance, pollinators like bees along with butterflies are lifelines for our well-being, our food supplies and our financial structures – maintaining the fruits, vegetables and seeds that feed us,” stated the IUCN’s director general. “The most recent European red list assessments reveal major obstacles, with threats mounting for butterflies and essential native bee types.”
The factors of the swift recent drops are the continuing destruction or damage of living environments caused by farming intensification and deserted farmland, wetland drainage, livestock overgrazing, and the application of pesticides and fertilisers including neonicotinoids. The breaking up of pollinator-friendly habitat significantly raises the risk of local extinctions.
Climate change is also demonstrated to be a primary risk: 52% of all endangered butterflies in Europe are endangered by the climate change crisis – approximately twice as many as a ten years ago.
Up to ninety percent of plants that flower in Europe depend on animal pollination, as per the wild bee assessment’s lead coordinator. “Unfortunately, non-managed bee groups are in severe drop and cannot readily be substituted by domesticated hives,” he said. “If wild bees die out, many non-cultivated plants might be at risk too – of which meadows rich in flowers and beautiful orchid species are just a few examples.”
15 varieties of bumblebee species, which play a crucial role in aiding the pollination of peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and 14 species of cellophane bee types, famous for pollinating trees such as willows and red maples, are now categorized as at-risk. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee unique to the European continent and the single type of this biological genus in Europe, is now evaluated as severely threatened – the research category nearest to dying out in natural habitats.
Butterflies that are exclusively located on high-altitude areas are especially at risk to global warming as they have to climb upward as their habitats become warmer but eventually run out of space. In southern Spain, the Nevada grayling and the Andalusian anomalous blue butterfly are among above 40 percent of European endemics (only found in Europe) threatened with extinction.
In the Mediterranean, varieties such as the severely threatened Karpathos grayling are threatened by severe drought and wildfires.
In the meantime, in the Arctic Circle, global heating is leading to the timberline to move north by dozens of meters each year, with underbrush encroaching on bog and tundra. Warmer conditions also mean Arctic deer can no more cross the frozen water to browse northern grasslands and prevent them from overgrowing. Eight butterfly species are at risk of extinction in this zone, including Freyja’s fritillary and the ringlet of the Arctic.
“The greatest living space for all these pollinating insects is grassland rich in flowers and that is vanishing rapidly in European nations because of all these reasons,” said Martin Warren. “The encouraging aspect is that so many citizens are concerned now and there’s a lot more awareness. Under the EU nature restoration legislation, all member states have to reverse the drop in pollinating insects by twenty-thirty, and they are going to have to begin taking action. There are landowners who are engaged. It is hoped they can obtain the encouragements that will help them on their way.”
According to the coordinator, there is “low-hanging fruit” in terms of measures for pollinating insects which won’t reduce food production – and could improve it – such as growers creating bloom-filled edges around their cultivated areas.
Jessika Roswall, portrayed the protection status of native bees, butterflies and additional pollinators as “severe”.
“Prompt and unified steps is required to confront this risk. Together with member countries, the EU Commission has established an Europe-wide observation system for pollinating species based on the EU nature restoration regulation, which will aid in following our advancement. Now, we need to focus on application and partnership with participating nations to protect our pollinators,” she said.
The publication of the assessments on bees and butterflies follows the pioneering EU-wide study on hoverflies, another essential pollinator group. Released in 2022, it revealed that thirty-seven percent of all hoverfly varieties in European nations were at risk of extinction.
