The total of non-managed bee types in Europe facing disappearance has more than doubled during the previous ten-year period, and the number of at-risk butterfly has almost doubled.
This critical situation for essential pollinating insects was revealed by scientific assessments for the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) red list, which found that at least over 170 bee species out of over 1900 were at risk of extinction in European nations.
The number of butterflies facing extinction in Europe has increased from 37 to sixty-five since the earlier research, performed 14 years ago. One type, the large white of Madeira (Pieris wollastoni) has now been declared extinct.
“Beyond their aesthetic appeal and cultural significance, pollinators like bees along with butterflies are essential supports for our physical condition, our food supplies and our economies – maintaining the fruits, vegetables and seeds that nourish us,” said the IUCN’s director general. “The latest European red list assessments reveal significant difficulties, with threats growing for butterfly types and vital wild bee species.”
The factors of the quick recent decreases are the continuing harm or degradation of living environments caused by farming intensification and land abandonment, wetland drainage, livestock overgrazing, and the use of pesticides and fertilisers including neonicotinoids. The fragmentation of pollinator-friendly habitat greatly increases the risk of disappearances in specific areas.
Global heating is also demonstrated to be a significant danger: Over half of all at-risk butterfly types in Europe are threatened by the climate crisis – about twice as many as a decade ago.
Nearly nine out of ten of plants that flower in the European continent depend on pollination by animals, according to the lead coordinator of the wild bee assessment. “Unfortunately, non-managed bee groups are in sharp decrease and cannot readily be substituted by managed bee colonies,” he said. “If wild bees vanish, many native plants might be in danger as well – of which flower-rich meadows and beautiful orchid species are just a few examples.”
Fifteen types of bumblebee species, which play a crucial role in aiding the pollination of legumes like peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and fourteen varieties of cellophane bees, known for pollinating trees such as willows along with red maples, are now listed as threatened. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee type unique to the European continent and the only species of this biological genus in Europe, is now evaluated as critically at risk – the research category closest to dying out in natural habitats.
Butterflies that are exclusively located on high-altitude areas are especially at risk to global heating as they have to climb upward as their living spaces become more heated but in the end exhaust available space. In the southern part of Spain, the Nevada grayling and the Andalusian anomalous blue butterfly are among more than 40% of species endemic to Europe (exclusive to Europe) at risk of extinction.
In the Mediterranean area, varieties such as the highly at-risk Karpathos grayling butterfly are endangered by intense dry conditions and fires.
At the same time, in the Arctic Circle, climate change is causing the timberline to move north by dozens of meters each year, with scrub invading wetlands and tundra. Warmer conditions also mean reindeer can no more cross the frozen water to browse Arctic grasslands and keep them open. Eight butterfly species are threatened with extinction in this region, including the fritillary of Freyja and the ringlet of the Arctic.
“The greatest living space for all these pollinating insects is bloom-filled grassy areas and that is declining quickly throughout Europe because of all these factors,” stated a lead coordinator for the butterfly assessment. “The good news is that so many people are aware now and there’s a lot more consciousness. Under the EU nature restoration legislation, all member countries have to halt the decrease in pollinating insects by the year 2030, and they are going to have to begin taking action. There are land holders who are involved. Let’s hope they can obtain the motivations that will assist them on their way.”
As per the coordinator, there is “easy opportunities” in terms of measures for pollinating insects which will not decrease agricultural output – and may enhance it – such as agricultural producers creating flower-rich margins around their fields.
the EU’s environment commissioner, portrayed the preservation condition of non-managed bees, butterfly species and other pollinating insects as “critical”.
“Prompt and unified steps is required to confront this danger. In collaboration with participating nations, the Commission of the European Union has implemented an Europe-wide observation system for pollinating species based on the EU nature restoration regulation, which will help to track our development. Now, we need to focus on implementation and partnership with member countries to protect our pollinating species,” she said.
The publication of the evaluations of bees along with butterflies follows the first European-wide study on hoverflies, a further vital group of pollinators. Published in 2022, it disclosed that 37% of all hoverfly types in European nations were threatened with extinction.
