The count of non-managed bee species in the European continent confronting extinction has more than doubled during the previous ten-year period, whereas the number of at-risk butterfly species has close to doubled.
This dire scenario for essential pollinating insects was revealed by research studies for the IUCN red list, which established that at least over 170 bee types out of over 1900 were at risk of extinction in Europe.
The number of butterfly species at risk of extinction in the European continent has grown from over thirty-five to 65 since the earlier research, performed over a decade past. One species, the Madeiran large white (Pieris wollastoni) has now been confirmed extinct.
“Beyond their visual charm and cultural importance, pollinating insects like bees along with butterflies are crucial elements for our well-being, our food supplies and our financial structures – maintaining the fruits, veggies and seeds that feed us,” stated Grethel Aguilar. “The most recent European red list assessments reveal serious challenges, with dangers mounting for butterflies and crucial non-managed bee species.”
The reasons of the quick recent decreases are the persistent harm or degradation of living environments caused by farming intensification and land abandonment, wetland drainage, overgrazing by livestock, and the application of chemical fertilisers and pesticides including neonicotinoid chemicals. The division of environments suitable for pollinators significantly raises the threat of local extinctions.
Global heating is also demonstrated to be a primary risk: 52% of all at-risk butterflies in the European continent are threatened by the climate emergency – roughly twofold the amount as a decade ago.
As many as ninety percent of flowering plants in European nations require insect pollination, as per the wild bee assessment’s lead coordinator. “Regrettably, wild bee groups are in drastic decline and cannot readily be substituted by domesticated hives,” he said. “If native bees vanish, many wild plants might be threatened too – of which flower-rich meadows and attractive orchid varieties are just a couple of instances.”
Fifteen species of bumblebee species, which have an essential part in fertilizing crops such as peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and 14 species of cellophane bee species, famous for fertilizing trees such as willows and red maples, are now classified as threatened. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee exclusive to the continent and the single type 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 only found on high-altitude areas are particularly vulnerable to climate change as they have to climb upward as their living spaces become more heated but eventually have no room left. In southern Spain, the Nevada grayling and the anomalous blue of Andalusia are among over forty percent of types unique to Europe (only found in Europe) facing extinction.
In the Mediterranean, varieties such as the severely threatened Karpathos grayling butterfly are imperilled by extreme drought and wildfires.
Meanwhile, in the Far North, global warming is leading to the tree line to move north by dozens of meters each year, with underbrush encroaching on wetlands and tundra. Hotter climates also mean caribou can no more cross the ice sheets to browse Arctic meadows and maintain them clear. Eight butterfly species are threatened with extinction in this zone, including the fritillary of Freyja and the ringlet of the Arctic.
“The largest habitat for all these pollinators is bloom-filled grassy areas and that is vanishing rapidly across the European continent because of all these reasons,” said one of the lead coordinators of the butterflies assessment. “The encouraging aspect is that so many people are concerned now and there’s a lot more consciousness. Under the EU nature restoration legislation, all member countries have to halt the decline in pollinating insects by the year 2030, and they are going to have to begin taking action. There are land holders who are interested. Let’s hope they can obtain the incentives that will support them on their way.”
According to the coordinator, there is “readily achievable actions” in terms of steps for pollinating species which will not decrease food production – and could improve it – such as farmers developing bloom-filled edges around their fields.
the EU’s environment commissioner, described the protection status of wild bees, butterflies and other pollinators as “critical”.
“Urgent and collective action is necessary to confront this threat. Together with member states, the EU Commission has put in place an Europe-wide observation system for pollinators based on the EU nature restoration regulation, which will aid in following our progress. Now, we need to concentrate on execution and collaboration with member countries to preserve our pollinators,” she said.
The publication of the evaluations of bees along with butterflies follows the pioneering EU-wide assessment of hoverflies, a further vital pollinator group. Issued in 2022, it revealed that over one-third of all hoverfly types in the European continent were threatened with extinction.
