The total of wild bee types in Europe confronting disappearance has increased twofold over the past decade, while the total of threatened butterfly species has close to doubled.
This critical situation for vital pollinating insects was revealed by scientific studies for the IUCN red list, which established that at least 172 bee varieties out of over 1900 were at risk of extinction in Europe.
The number of butterfly types threatened with extinction in Europe has grown from 37 to 65 since the previous assessment, carried out over a decade past. One type, the Madeiran large white butterfly (Pieris wollastoni) has now been declared extinct.
In addition to their aesthetic appeal and cultural importance, pollinators like bees and butterflies are crucial elements for our physical condition, our food systems and our financial structures – sustaining the produce, vegetables and seeds that sustain us,” said Grethel Aguilar. “The most recent European red list evaluations reveal major obstacles, with dangers mounting for butterflies and essential non-managed bee species.”
The causes of the swift recent drops are the ongoing destruction or damage of natural habitats caused by agricultural intensification and land abandonment, wetland drainage, livestock overgrazing, and the use of pesticides and fertilisers including neonicotinoids. The breaking up of environments suitable for pollinators significantly raises the threat of extinctions at local level.
Global warming is also revealed to be a major threat: Over half of all endangered butterfly types in Europe are imperilled by the climate change crisis – approximately double the number as a ten years ago.
Up to nine out of ten of flowering plants in European nations depend on pollination by animals, as stated by Dr Denis Michez. “Regrettably, wild bee colonies are in drastic decline and are not easily replaceable by managed colonies,” he said. “If non-managed bees disappear, many native plants might be at risk too – of which bloom-filled grasslands and beautiful orchid species are just a couple of instances.”
Fifteen species of bumblebee types, which play a crucial role in pollinating legumes like peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and 14 types of cellophane bees, recognized for fertilizing trees such as willows along with red maples, are now classified as threatened. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee species exclusive to the continent and the only species of this genus group in European nations, is now evaluated as critically at risk – the research category nearest to dying out in natural habitats.
Butterflies that are only found on mountain peaks are especially at risk to climate change as they need to move uphill as their living spaces become warmer but eventually have no room left. In Spain’s southern region, the Nevada grayling and the Andalusian anomalous blue butterfly are among more than 40% of European endemics (only found in Europe) facing extinction.
In the Mediterranean, varieties such as the critically endangered Karpathos grayling butterfly are imperilled by severe wildfires and drought.
Meanwhile, in the Arctic Circle, global heating is resulting in the timberline to move north by tens of metres each year, with scrub encroaching on wetlands and tundra. Warmer conditions also mean reindeer can no longer cross the ice to browse Arctic grasslands and prevent them from overgrowing. 8 butterfly varieties are facing extinction in this area, including Freyja’s fritillary and the Arctic ringlet.
“The largest living space for all these pollinating species is grassland rich in flowers and that is declining quickly in Europe because of all these reasons,” said one of the lead coordinators of the butterflies assessment. “The good news is that so many individuals are aware now and there’s a lot more understanding. Under the EU’s nature restoration regulation, all participating nations have to halt the decrease in pollinators by 2030, and they are going to have to begin taking action. There are property owners who are engaged. It is hoped they can obtain the incentives that will support them on their way.”
As per Warren, there is “readily achievable actions” in terms of measures for pollinating insects which won’t reduce food production – and may enhance it – such as agricultural producers developing margins rich in flowers around their fields.
EU commissioner for environment, described the conservation status of wild bees, butterflies and other pollinators as “severe”.
“Prompt and unified steps is needed to confront this threat. In collaboration with participating nations, the EU Commission has established an European Union-wide tracking system for pollinating insects based on the European Union nature restoration legislation, which will aid in following our development. Now, we need to prioritize application and partnership with member countries to protect our pollinators,” she said.
The publication of the assessments on bees and butterflies comes after the initial EU-wide assessment of hoverflies, a further essential group of pollinators. Released in 2022, it showed that thirty-seven percent of all hoverfly types in European nations were threatened with extinction.
