The number of native bee varieties in Europe experiencing disappearance has increased twofold during the previous ten-year period, and the count of threatened butterfly types has close to doubled.
This pressing issue for vital pollinators was revealed by research studies for the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) red list, which established that at least one hundred seventy-two bee species out of 1,928 were at risk of extinction in European nations.
The number of butterfly species threatened with extinction in European nations has grown from 37 to sixty-five since the last study, conducted 14 years ago. One type, the large white of Madeira (Pieris wollastoni) has now been confirmed extinct.
In addition to their visual charm and cultural value, pollinators like bees along with butterflies are essential supports for our health, our food systems and our financial structures – supporting the produce, vegetables and seeds that nourish us,” stated the IUCN’s director general. “The most recent European red list evaluations reveal serious challenges, with threats increasing for butterfly types and crucial native bee species.”
The reasons of the rapid recent declines are the ongoing harm or degradation of living environments caused by intensive agriculture and abandoned land, wetland drainage, livestock overgrazing, and the use of fertilisers and pesticides including neonicotinoid chemicals. The breaking up of habitat friendly to pollinators substantially boosts the threat of disappearances in specific areas.
Climate change is also revealed to be a primary risk: Over half of all endangered butterfly species in Europe are threatened by the climate crisis – roughly twice as many as a ten years ago.
As many as nine out of ten of blooming plants in European nations depend on insect pollination, as stated by the wild bee assessment’s lead coordinator. “Regrettably, non-managed bee groups are in severe drop and cannot be easily replaced by managed colonies,” he said. “If wild bees disappear, many non-cultivated plants might be at risk too – of which flower-rich meadows and lovely orchid types are just a few examples.”
15 varieties of bumblebees, which perform a vital function in fertilizing peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and 14 types of cellophane bee species, famous for fertilizing trees such as willows along with red maples, are now classified as threatened. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee type unique to the European continent and the only species of this biological genus in the European continent, is now classified as critically at risk – the scientific category nearest to disappearance in the wild.
Butterfly types that are exclusively located on high-altitude areas are particularly vulnerable to global warming as they must ascend higher as their living spaces become more heated but eventually exhaust available space. In southern Spain, the Nevada grayling and the Andalusian anomalous blue butterfly are among above 40 percent of types unique to Europe (only found in Europe) facing extinction.
In the Mediterranean region, types such as the highly at-risk grayling of Karpathos are threatened by extreme dry conditions and fires.
At the same time, in the Arctic Circle, global heating is resulting in the forest boundary to move north by tens of metres each year, with underbrush taking over marsh and tundra. Higher temperatures also mean Arctic deer can no longer cross the frozen water to graze Arctic grasslands and maintain them clear. Eight types of butterflies are facing extinction in this zone, including Freyja’s fritillary butterfly and the Arctic ringlet butterfly.
“The largest environment for all these pollinating insects is bloom-filled grassy areas and that is declining quickly across the European continent because of all these reasons,” remarked Martin Warren. “The good news is that so many individuals are concerned now and there’s a lot more understanding. Under the EU nature restoration legislation, all member countries have to turn around the decrease in pollinating insects by 2030, and they are going to have to start doing something. There are land holders who are engaged. It is hoped they can receive the encouragements that will support them on their way.”
As stated by the coordinator, there is “readily achievable actions” in terms of action for pollinating insects which will not decrease food production – and may enhance it – such as farmers creating margins rich in flowers around their farmland.
Jessika Roswall, portrayed the conservation status of non-managed bees, butterfly species and other pollinating insects as “severe”.
“Urgent and collective action is necessary to tackle this risk. In collaboration with participating nations, the EU Commission has put in place an Europe-wide monitoring system for pollinating insects based on the EU nature restoration law, which will help to track our progress. Now, we need to focus on implementation and cooperation with member states to safeguard our pollinators,” she said.
The publication of the assessments on bees and butterflies comes after the first European-wide study on hoverflies, a further essential group of pollinators. Released in 2022, it showed that over one-third of all hoverfly species in European nations were at risk of extinction.
