The total of native bee types in Europe facing disappearance has more than doubled during the previous ten-year period, whereas the number of at-risk butterfly has almost doubled.
This critical situation for vital pollinators was revealed by research studies for the IUCN red list, which established that at least 172 bee species out of 1,928 were at risk of extinction in European nations.
The number of butterfly types at risk of extinction in European nations has risen from thirty-seven to sixty-five since the last study, performed 14 years ago. A single species, the Madeiran large white (Pieris wollastoni) has now been confirmed extinct.
In addition to their aesthetic appeal and cultural significance, pollinating species like bees and butterfly species are crucial elements for our physical condition, our food chains and our financial structures – sustaining the fruits, veggies and seeds that nourish us,” stated Grethel Aguilar. “The most recent European red list assessments reveal serious challenges, with threats growing for butterfly types and essential non-managed bee species.”
The causes of the swift recent drops are the persistent damage or destruction of natural habitats caused by farming intensification and deserted farmland, wetland drainage, excessive grazing by animals, and the application of chemical fertilisers and pesticides including neonicotinoid pesticides. The division of environments suitable for pollinators significantly raises the risk of extinctions at local level.
Climate change is also shown to be a primary risk: 52% of all at-risk butterfly species in Europe are threatened by the climate change crisis – roughly twofold the amount as a previous decade.
As many as ninety percent of plants that flower in European nations require pollination by animals, as per the lead coordinator of the wild bee assessment. “Sadly, non-managed bee populations are in sharp decrease and cannot readily be substituted by domesticated hives,” he said. “If non-managed bees disappear, many non-cultivated plants might be in danger as well – of which bloom-filled grasslands and lovely orchid types are just a handful of illustrations.”
Fifteen types of bumblebees, which play a crucial role in aiding the pollination of peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and fourteen varieties of cellophane bee species, recognized for pollinating trees such as willows and red maples, are now classified as threatened. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee found only in the mainland and the only species of this genus group in the European continent, is now evaluated as severely threatened – the scientific category most akin to extinction in the wild.
Butterfly species that are solely present on mountain peaks are particularly vulnerable to climate change as they need to move uphill as their habitats become more heated but in the end exhaust available space. In Spain’s southern region, the grayling of Nevada and the Andalusian anomalous blue are among above 40 percent of European endemics (exclusive to Europe) threatened with extinction.
In the Mediterranean area, species such as the critically endangered grayling of Karpathos are endangered by extreme dry conditions and fires.
Meanwhile, in the Far North, global heating is resulting in the tree line to shift northward by many meters each year, with scrub taking over bog and tundra. Warmer conditions also mean Arctic deer can not anymore cross the frozen water to browse Arctic meadows and keep them open. Eight types of butterflies are facing extinction in this area, including Freyja’s fritillary butterfly and the Arctic ringlet butterfly.
“The greatest environment for all these pollinators is bloom-filled grassy areas and that is declining quickly in Europe because of all these reasons,” said Martin Warren. “The encouraging aspect is that so many citizens are aware now and there’s a lot more awareness. Under the EU nature restoration legislation, all participating nations have to halt the decline 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 receive the encouragements that will assist them on their way.”
As stated by Warren, there is “low-hanging fruit” in terms of measures for pollinating species which will not lower agricultural output – and may enhance it – such as agricultural producers developing flower-rich margins around their fields.
the EU’s environment commissioner, described the preservation condition of wild bees, butterflies and other pollinators as “critical”.
“Prompt and unified steps is needed to address this threat. In collaboration with participating nations, the Commission of the European Union has established an European Union-wide monitoring system for pollinators based on the EU nature restoration law, which will assist in monitoring our advancement. Now, we need to concentrate on application and collaboration with participating nations to safeguard our pollinating insects,” she said.
The publication of the bee and butterfly assessments follows the first EU-wide study on hoverflies, another vital pollinating insect category. Issued in twenty-twenty-two, it disclosed that over one-third of all hoverfly species in the European continent were threatened with extinction.
