The number of non-managed bee varieties in the European continent facing dying out has more than doubled over the past decade, and the number of threatened butterfly types has nearly doubled.
This dire scenario for crucial pollinators was disclosed by research studies for the IUCN red list, which established that at least 172 bee varieties out of 1,928 were at risk of extinction in the European continent.
The total of butterfly species at risk of extinction in European nations has increased from thirty-seven to 65 since the previous assessment, performed 14 years ago. One species, the Madeiran large white (Pieris wollastoni) has now been declared extinct.
“Beyond their beauty and cultural value, pollinating species like bees and butterflies are lifelines for our health, our food chains and our economic systems – supporting the produce, vegetables and seeds that sustain us,” said Grethel Aguilar. “The latest European red list evaluations reveal serious challenges, with risks growing for butterfly species and essential wild bee types.”
The factors of the rapid recent declines are the ongoing destruction or damage of living environments caused by agricultural intensification and abandoned land, draining of wetlands, overgrazing by livestock, and the utilization of fertilisers and pesticides including neonicotinoids. The fragmentation of environments suitable for pollinators greatly increases the danger of disappearances in specific areas.
Global heating is also demonstrated to be a major threat: Over half of all threatened butterfly species in Europe are endangered by the climate crisis – about double the number as a decade ago.
As many as nine out of ten of plants that flower in Europe rely on insect pollination, as per the lead coordinator of the wild bee assessment. “Regrettably, native bee colonies are in severe drop and cannot readily be substituted by managed colonies,” he said. “If non-managed bees vanish, many non-cultivated plants might be threatened too – of which meadows rich in flowers and attractive orchid varieties are just a few examples.”
Fifteen types of bumblebee types, which perform a vital function in pollinating crops such as peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and 14 types of cellophane bees, known for fertilizing trees such as willow trees and red maples, are now listed as threatened. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee found only in the continent and the only species of this biological genus in European nations, is now classified as severely threatened – the scientific category closest to disappearance in the wild.
Butterflies that are solely present on high-altitude areas are particularly vulnerable to climate change as they have to climb upward as their habitats become warmer but eventually have no room left. In the southern part of Spain, the grayling of Nevada and the anomalous blue of Andalusia are among more than 40% of types unique to Europe (only found in Europe) at risk of extinction.
In the Mediterranean region, varieties such as the severely threatened Karpathos grayling are imperilled by severe wildfires and drought.
At the same time, in the Arctic region, global heating is leading to the timberline to shift northward by many meters each year, with bushes encroaching on bog and tundra. Warmer conditions also mean Arctic deer can no longer cross the ice to browse Arctic grasslands and prevent them from overgrowing. Eight types of butterflies are threatened with extinction in this area, including the fritillary of Freyja and the Arctic ringlet.
“The biggest environment for all these pollinators is grassland rich in flowers and that is disappearing very fast across Europe because of all these reasons,” said one of the lead coordinators of the butterflies assessment. “The encouraging aspect is that so many people care now and there’s a lot more consciousness. Under the EU nature restoration legislation, all participating nations have to halt the decrease in pollinating insects by 2030, and they are going to have to start doing something. There are landowners who are interested. Let’s hope they can obtain the incentives that will help them on their way.”
As per Martin Warren, there is “readily achievable actions” in terms of action for pollinating insects which will not lower food production – and may enhance it – such as farmers establishing bloom-filled edges around their farmland.
the EU’s environment commissioner, described the conservation status of wild bees, butterflies and other pollinators as “severe”.
“Immediate and joint measures is required to tackle this threat. In collaboration with member countries, the EU 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 concentrate on application and collaboration with member countries to safeguard our pollinating species,” she said.
The issuance of the assessments on bees and butterflies follows the initial European-wide study on hoverflies, a further essential pollinating insect category. Issued in twenty-twenty-two, it disclosed that 37% of all hoverfly types in European nations were at risk of extinction.
