The total of native bee types in the European continent confronting disappearance has increased twofold over the past decade, while the count of at-risk butterfly species has almost doubled.
This critical situation for crucial pollinating insects was disclosed by research studies for the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) red list, which found that at least 172 bee species out of nearly two thousand were facing extinction in Europe.
The number of butterfly types at risk of extinction in the European continent has risen from 37 to sixty-five since the previous assessment, conducted a decade and a half ago. One species, the Madeiran large white (Pieris wollastoni) has now been classified as extinct.
In addition to their beauty and cultural significance, pollinating species like bees and butterfly species are lifelines for our physical condition, our food chains and our economic systems – supporting the fruits, vegetables and seeds that feed us,” commented the IUCN director general. “The latest European red list evaluations reveal serious challenges, with dangers increasing for butterfly types and crucial native bee varieties.”
The causes of the swift recent drops are the continuing damage or destruction of living environments caused by intensive agriculture and abandoned land, draining of wetlands, livestock overgrazing, and the use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides including neonicotinoid chemicals. The division of environments suitable for pollinators greatly increases the threat of local extinctions.
Climate change is also revealed to be a major threat: 52% of all threatened butterfly species in Europe are imperilled by the climate crisis – about twofold the amount as a decade ago.
As many as ninety percent of flowering plants in the European continent require pollination by animals, as per the wild bee assessment’s lead coordinator. “Unfortunately, wild bee populations are in drastic decline and cannot be easily replaced by managed bee colonies,” he said. “If native bees disappear, many wild plants might be threatened too – of which meadows rich in flowers and lovely orchid types are just a handful of illustrations.”
Fifteen types of bumblebees, which perform a vital function in fertilizing legumes like peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and fourteen varieties of cellophane bee species, famous for fertilizing trees such as willows and red maples, are now classified as threatened. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee species unique to the European continent and the single type of this genus in the European continent, is now classified as severely threatened – the scientific classification most akin to dying out in natural habitats.
Butterflies that are exclusively located on high-altitude areas are especially at risk to global warming as they must ascend higher as their habitats become more heated but eventually exhaust available space. In the southern part of Spain, the Nevada grayling butterfly and the anomalous blue of Andalusia are among above 40 percent of European endemics (only found in Europe) at risk of extinction.
In the Mediterranean area, species such as the critically endangered grayling of Karpathos are threatened by intense dry conditions and fires.
At the same time, in the Far North, climate change is resulting in the forest boundary to move north by tens of metres each year, with bushes taking over marsh and tundra. Warmer conditions also mean reindeer can no longer cross the frozen water to graze Arctic meadows and prevent them from overgrowing. Eight types of butterflies are threatened with extinction in this zone, including Freyja’s fritillary butterfly and the Arctic ringlet butterfly.
“The largest environment for all these pollinating species is flower-rich grassland and that is disappearing very fast across European nations because of all these elements,” said one of the lead coordinators of the butterflies assessment. “The positive thing is that so many individuals care now and there’s a lot more understanding. Under the EU nature restoration legislation, all member countries have to reverse the drop in pollinating insects by the year 2030, and they are going to have to begin taking action. There are property owners who are involved. It is hoped they can obtain the incentives that will support them on their way.”
As per Martin Warren, there is “low-hanging fruit” in terms of steps for pollinating species which will not decrease crop yields – and might boost it – such as growers establishing flower-rich margins around their fields.
Jessika Roswall, described the preservation condition of non-managed bees, butterfly species and other pollinating insects as “severe”.
“Prompt and unified steps is necessary to confront this danger. In collaboration with member countries, the Commission of the European Union has implemented an Europe-wide observation system for pollinating insects based on the EU nature restoration law, which will assist in monitoring our development. Now, we need to focus on execution and collaboration with member states to protect our pollinating species,” she said.
The issuance of the assessments on bees and butterflies follows the pioneering Europe-wide study on hoverflies, another crucial pollinator group. Issued in twenty-twenty-two, it disclosed that over one-third of all hoverfly varieties in European nations were facing extinction.
