The count of non-managed bee species in European nations confronting dying out has increased twofold over the past decade, whereas the number of threatened butterfly species has close to doubled.
This critical situation for crucial pollinating species was disclosed by research studies for the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) red list, which established that at least over 170 bee types out of over 1900 were facing extinction in Europe.
The total of butterflies at risk of extinction in European nations has increased from over thirty-five to over sixty since the previous assessment, performed a decade and a half ago. A single species, the Madeiran large white butterfly (Pieris wollastoni) has now been declared extinct.
In addition to their visual charm and cultural value, pollinators like bees and butterflies are crucial elements for our physical condition, our food supplies and our economic systems – sustaining the fruits, veggies and seeds that feed us,” stated the IUCN director general. “The most recent European red list assessments reveal serious challenges, with risks growing for butterfly species and essential non-managed bee species.”
The reasons of the quick recent decreases are the ongoing harm or degradation of living environments caused by farming intensification and land abandonment, wetland drainage, overgrazing by livestock, and the utilization of fertilisers and pesticides including neonicotinoid chemicals. The breaking up of pollinator-friendly habitat significantly raises the risk of disappearances in specific areas.
Global heating is also shown to be a major threat: Fifty-two percent of all threatened butterfly types in the European continent are imperilled by the climate change crisis – roughly double the number as a decade ago.
As many as 90% of blooming plants in European nations require pollination by animals, according to Dr Denis Michez. “Sadly, non-managed bee groups are in drastic decline and are not easily replaceable by managed colonies,” he said. “If wild bees vanish, many native plants might be at risk too – of which meadows rich in flowers and lovely orchid types are just a few examples.”
Fifteen species of bumblebee species, which play a crucial role in pollinating legumes like peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and 14 types of cellophane bees, recognized for pollinating trees such as willow trees and red maples, are now listed as threatened. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee exclusive to the continent and the sole species of this genus group in the European continent, is now evaluated as severely threatened – the research category most akin to disappearance in the wild.
Butterflies that are exclusively located on mountain tops are particularly vulnerable to climate change as they need to move uphill as their living spaces become hotter but ultimately exhaust available space. In southern Spain, the Nevada grayling butterfly and the anomalous blue of Andalusia are among over forty percent of types unique to Europe (exclusive to Europe) threatened with extinction.
In the Mediterranean region, types such as the highly at-risk Karpathos grayling are imperilled by intense drought and wildfires.
At the same time, in the Arctic Circle, global warming is leading to the timberline to advance northwards by tens of metres each year, with underbrush taking over bog and tundra. Hotter climates also mean caribou can no longer cross the ice sheets to graze northern grasslands and prevent them from overgrowing. Eight butterfly species are facing extinction in this area, including Freyja’s fritillary butterfly and the ringlet of the Arctic.
“The biggest environment for all these pollinating species is flower-rich grassland 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 individuals care now and there’s a lot more awareness. Under the EU nature restoration legislation, all participating nations have to reverse the decrease in pollinating species by 2030, and they are going to have to start doing something. There are landowners who are engaged. Let’s hope they can get the incentives that will support them on their way.”
As stated by the coordinator, there is “easy opportunities” in terms of measures for pollinators which will not decrease agricultural output – and might boost it – such as growers developing bloom-filled edges around their farmland.
EU commissioner for environment, portrayed the preservation condition of native bees, butterflies and additional pollinators as “severe”.
“Prompt and unified steps is needed to tackle this risk. Together with member countries, the EU Commission has implemented an EU-wide tracking system for pollinators based on the European Union nature restoration legislation, which will help to track our development. Now, we need to prioritize implementation and partnership with member countries to protect our pollinators,” she said.
The issuance of the evaluations of bees along with butterflies comes after the pioneering EU-wide study on hoverflies, an additional vital pollinator group. Issued in 2022, it disclosed that over one-third of all hoverfly types in European nations were threatened with extinction.
