The total of wild bee types in Europe facing disappearance has increased twofold over the past decade, and the total of threatened butterfly species has nearly doubled.
This dire scenario for essential pollinators was unveiled by research studies for the IUCN red list, which found that at least over 170 bee species out of nearly two thousand were at risk of extinction in European nations.
The total of butterfly species threatened with extinction in Europe has increased from thirty-seven to sixty-five since the earlier research, carried out a decade and a half ago. One type, the Madeiran large white butterfly (Pieris wollastoni) has now been classified as extinct.
“Beyond their visual charm and cultural significance, pollinating insects like bees and butterflies are essential supports for our health, our food chains and our economic systems – sustaining the fruits, veggies and seeds that sustain us,” stated the IUCN director general. “The most recent European red list assessments reveal major obstacles, with risks mounting for butterfly species and essential non-managed bee types.”
The causes of the swift recent drops are the persistent harm or degradation of living environments caused by intensive agriculture and land abandonment, draining wetlands, livestock overgrazing, and the application of fertilisers and pesticides including neonicotinoid chemicals. The fragmentation of habitat friendly to pollinators greatly increases the risk of extinctions at local level.
Climate change is also shown to be a significant danger: Fifty-two percent of all endangered butterfly types in European nations are imperilled by the climate crisis – approximately double the number as a decade ago.
Up to ninety percent of plants that flower in Europe require animal pollination, according to the lead coordinator of the wild bee assessment. “Regrettably, non-managed bee colonies are in severe drop and cannot readily be substituted by domesticated hives,” he said. “If native bees vanish, many non-cultivated plants might be in danger as well – of which meadows rich in flowers and beautiful orchid species are just a couple of instances.”
Fifteen species of bumblebees, which have an essential part in aiding the pollination of crops such as peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and 14 species of cellophane bee species, known for fertilizing trees such as willows along with red maples, are now classified as threatened. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee unique to the European continent and the sole species of this biological genus in Europe, is now classified as critically at risk – the research category most akin to extinction in the wild.
Butterflies that are solely present on mountain peaks are particularly vulnerable to global warming as they need to move uphill as their environments become warmer but ultimately have no room left. In the southern part of Spain, the grayling of Nevada and the Andalusian anomalous blue butterfly are among more than 40% of types unique to Europe (solely present in Europe) threatened with extinction.
In the Mediterranean, species such as the highly at-risk Karpathos grayling are imperilled by severe drought and wildfires.
At the same time, in the Arctic Circle, climate change is leading to the forest boundary to move north by dozens of meters each year, with underbrush encroaching on wetlands and tundra. Warmer conditions also mean Arctic deer can no more cross the frozen water to graze northern grasslands and maintain them clear. 8 butterfly varieties are at risk of extinction in this region, including the fritillary of Freyja and the Arctic ringlet butterfly.
“The greatest environment for all these pollinators is flower-rich grassland and that is vanishing rapidly in European nations because of all these elements,” remarked one of the lead coordinators of the butterflies assessment. “The good news is that so many citizens care now and there’s a lot more consciousness. Under the EU nature restoration legislation, all member states have to reverse the decline in pollinators by 2030, and they are going to have to initiate measures. There are property owners who are involved. Let’s hope they can receive the encouragements that will assist them on their way.”
As stated by the coordinator, there is “low-hanging fruit” in terms of action for pollinators which will not lower crop yields – and may enhance it – such as agricultural producers establishing bloom-filled edges around their fields.
Jessika Roswall, described the preservation condition of native bees, butterflies and additional pollinators as “critical”.
“Immediate and joint measures is required to address this danger. Along with member countries, the European Commission has put in place an Europe-wide observation system for pollinating species based on the EU nature restoration regulation, which will assist in monitoring our development. Now, we need to focus on implementation and cooperation with member countries to preserve our pollinating insects,” she said.
The release of the assessments on bees and butterflies follows the first Europe-wide assessment of hoverflies, another crucial pollinating insect category. Released in 2022, it disclosed that over one-third of all hoverfly varieties in Europe were threatened with extinction.
