The number of non-managed bee types in European nations experiencing disappearance has more than doubled over the past decade, whereas the number of endangered butterfly has close to doubled.
This pressing issue for crucial pollinating species was disclosed by scientific studies for the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) red list, which found that at least one hundred seventy-two bee species out of nearly two thousand were facing extinction in Europe.
The number of butterflies facing extinction in the European continent has increased from 37 to sixty-five since the previous assessment, conducted a decade and a half ago. One species, the Madeiran large white butterfly (Pieris wollastoni) has now been declared extinct.
Apart from their visual charm and cultural value, pollinating species like bees and butterfly species are essential supports for our physical condition, our food chains and our financial structures – supporting the fruits, veggies and seeds that nourish us,” said the IUCN director general. “The latest assessments of the European red list reveal serious challenges, with threats growing for butterfly species and vital non-managed bee varieties.”
The reasons of the swift recent drops are the persistent damage or destruction of natural habitats caused by intensive agriculture and abandoned land, draining wetlands, overgrazing by livestock, and the utilization of chemical fertilisers and pesticides including neonicotinoids. The breaking up of habitat friendly to pollinators greatly increases the risk of extinctions at local level.
Climate change is also shown to be a primary risk: 52% of all endangered butterfly types in Europe are endangered by the climate emergency – about twofold the amount as a decade ago.
Up to ninety percent of blooming plants in Europe require insect pollination, as stated by the lead coordinator of the wild bee assessment. “Regrettably, wild bee populations are in severe drop and are not easily replaceable by domesticated hives,” he said. “If non-managed bees disappear, many wild plants might be at risk too – of which bloom-filled grasslands and beautiful orchid species are just a few examples.”
Fifteen types of bumblebee species, which perform a vital function in aiding the pollination of legumes like peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and 14 species of cellophane bees, famous for pollinating trees such as willow trees and red maples, are now categorized as at-risk. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee species found only in the continent and the single type of this genus in Europe, is now assessed as severely threatened – the scientific category most akin to disappearance in the wild.
Butterfly types that are exclusively located on high-altitude areas are particularly vulnerable to global heating as they need to move uphill as their environments become more heated but eventually have no room left. In Spain’s southern region, the Nevada grayling butterfly and the Andalusian anomalous blue are among more than 40% of types unique to Europe (solely present in Europe) at risk of extinction.
In the Mediterranean, species such as the critically endangered grayling of Karpathos are imperilled by extreme wildfires and drought.
Meanwhile, in the Far North, global heating is causing the tree line to shift northward by many meters each year, with underbrush encroaching on marsh and tundra. Warmer conditions also mean reindeer can no more cross the frozen water to feed on Arctic grasslands and keep them open. Eight butterfly species are at risk of extinction in this area, including Freyja’s fritillary and the Arctic ringlet.
“The largest environment for all these pollinating species is bloom-filled grassy areas and that is disappearing very fast across European nations because of all these reasons,” remarked Martin Warren. “The encouraging aspect is that so many citizens are concerned now and there’s a lot more awareness. Under the European Union nature restoration law, all participating nations have to reverse the drop in pollinating insects by 2030, and they are going to have to begin taking action. There are landowners who are interested. It is hoped they can get the encouragements that will help them on their way.”
According to the coordinator, there is “low-hanging fruit” in terms of steps for pollinating species which will not lower agricultural output – and could improve it – such as agricultural producers creating margins rich in flowers around their fields.
EU commissioner for environment, described the conservation status of non-managed bees, butterfly species and other pollinating insects as “dire”.
“Immediate and joint measures is necessary to tackle this risk. Together with member countries, the EU Commission has put in place an European Union-wide monitoring system for pollinating insects based on the EU nature restoration regulation, which will assist in monitoring our progress. Now, we need to prioritize application and cooperation with member states to protect our pollinating species,” she said.
The publication of the bee and butterfly assessments is subsequent to the initial Europe-wide evaluation of hoverflies, an additional crucial pollinator group. Issued in twenty-twenty-two, it revealed that 37% of all hoverfly varieties in the European continent were facing extinction.
