The count of native bee types in European nations experiencing disappearance has increased twofold over the past decade, whereas the count of endangered butterfly species has close to doubled.
This dire scenario for essential pollinators was unveiled by research studies for the red list of threatened species, which determined that at least 172 bee types out of nearly two thousand were facing extinction in European nations.
The total of butterfly species facing extinction in Europe has grown from 37 to over sixty since the previous assessment, performed over a decade past. A single species, the large white of Madeira (Pieris wollastoni) has now been confirmed extinct.
“Beyond their beauty and cultural value, pollinators like bees and butterflies are crucial elements for our health, our food systems and our financial structures – maintaining the fruits, veggies and seeds that nourish us,” said the IUCN’s director general. “The latest assessments of the European red list reveal major obstacles, with risks increasing for butterfly types and vital wild bee types.”
The factors of the swift recent drops are the persistent damage or destruction of living environments caused by agricultural intensification and deserted farmland, draining of wetlands, livestock overgrazing, and the use of pesticides and fertilisers including neonicotinoid pesticides. The fragmentation of pollinator-friendly habitat substantially boosts the risk of disappearances in specific areas.
Global heating is also demonstrated to be a major threat: Over half of all threatened butterflies in European nations are imperilled by the climate change crisis – roughly double the number as a previous decade.
Nearly nine out of ten of blooming plants in Europe depend on animal pollination, according to Dr Denis Michez. “Unfortunately, wild bee groups are in drastic decline and are not easily replaceable by managed colonies,” he said. “If wild bees die out, many wild plants might be in danger as well – of which bloom-filled grasslands and lovely orchid types are just a handful of illustrations.”
15 varieties of bumblebees, which perform a vital function in pollinating peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and fourteen varieties of cellophane bee types, known for pollinating trees such as willow trees and red maples, are now classified as threatened. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee unique to the European continent and the sole species of this genus group in European nations, is now classified as critically endangered – the scientific category closest to extinction in the wild.
Butterfly species that are exclusively located on mountain tops are particularly vulnerable to global heating as they need to move uphill as their living spaces become warmer but ultimately exhaust available space. In southern Spain, the Nevada grayling and the anomalous blue of Andalusia are among more than 40% of species endemic to Europe (solely present in Europe) threatened with extinction.
In the Mediterranean region, types such as the severely threatened Karpathos grayling butterfly are threatened by extreme drought and wildfires.
Meanwhile, in the Far North, climate change is leading to the timberline to advance northwards by many meters each year, with bushes encroaching on wetlands and tundra. Higher temperatures also mean Arctic deer can no more cross the ice sheets to browse Arctic meadows and prevent them from overgrowing. Eight types of butterflies are facing extinction in this zone, including the fritillary of Freyja and the Arctic ringlet.
“The largest habitat for all these pollinators is flower-rich grassland and that is vanishing rapidly throughout Europe because of all these factors,” stated one of the lead coordinators of the butterflies assessment. “The positive thing is that so many citizens are aware now and there’s a lot more awareness. Under the European Union nature restoration law, all member countries have to halt the decline in pollinating species by 2030, and they are going to have to begin taking action. There are land holders who are involved. Let’s hope they can get the incentives that will support them on their way.”
According to Martin Warren, there is “easy opportunities” in terms of measures for pollinating insects which will not decrease food production – and could improve it – such as agricultural producers creating margins rich in flowers around their fields.
EU commissioner for environment, portrayed the conservation status of non-managed bees, butterfly species and other pollinating insects as “critical”.
“Prompt and unified steps is necessary to confront this risk. Along with participating nations, the Commission of the European Union has established an Europe-wide observation system for pollinators based on the EU nature restoration law, which will help to track our progress. Now, we need to concentrate on execution and cooperation with member countries to preserve our pollinators,” she said.
The publication of the assessments on bees and butterflies comes after the pioneering Europe-wide study on hoverflies, an additional essential group of pollinators. Issued in 2022, it showed that thirty-seven percent of all hoverfly varieties in the European continent were facing extinction.
