The total of wild bee species in the European continent experiencing dying out has more than doubled in the last ten years, whereas the total of endangered butterfly species has nearly doubled.
This dire scenario for essential pollinating species was revealed by scientific assessments for the red list of threatened species, which determined that at least one hundred seventy-two bee species out of nearly two thousand were threatened with extinction in the European continent.
The count of butterfly species threatened with extinction in Europe has increased from thirty-seven to 65 since the last study, performed 14 years ago. One type, the Madeiran large white butterfly (Pieris wollastoni) has now been confirmed extinct.
In addition to their beauty and cultural value, pollinating species like bees along with butterflies are essential supports for our physical condition, our food supplies and our economies – maintaining the fruits, veggies and seeds that nourish us,” commented the IUCN’s director general. “The latest European red list evaluations reveal major obstacles, with risks growing for butterfly species and vital native bee species.”
The causes of the swift recent drops are the ongoing destruction or damage of living environments caused by farming intensification and deserted farmland, draining of wetlands, livestock overgrazing, and the use of pesticides and fertilisers including neonicotinoids. The division of habitat friendly to pollinators greatly increases the danger of local extinctions.
Climate change is also shown to be a primary risk: 52% of all threatened butterfly types in Europe are imperilled by the climate emergency – about twice as many as a decade ago.
Nearly 90% of flowering plants in European nations require pollination by animals, as per Dr Denis Michez. “Sadly, wild bee groups are in sharp decrease and are not easily replaceable by managed colonies,” he said. “If wild bees die out, many wild plants might be in danger as well – of which bloom-filled grasslands and attractive orchid varieties are just a couple of instances.”
Fifteen species of bumblebee species, which have an essential part in aiding the pollination of crops such as peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and 14 types of cellophane bees, known for fertilizing trees such as willows and red maples, are now listed as threatened. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee type unique to the mainland and the sole species of this genus in European nations, is now assessed as critically endangered – the research category nearest to disappearance in the wild.
Butterfly types that are exclusively located on mountain peaks are especially at risk to global warming as they must ascend higher as their habitats become warmer but eventually have no room left. In southern Spain, the Nevada grayling butterfly and the anomalous blue of Andalusia are among more than 40% of European endemics (only found in Europe) threatened with extinction.
In the Mediterranean, types such as the highly at-risk Karpathos grayling butterfly are endangered by severe drought and wildfires.
In the meantime, in the Arctic Circle, climate change is causing the tree line to move north by tens of metres each year, with scrub encroaching on bog and tundra. Higher temperatures also mean caribou can no longer cross the frozen water to browse Arctic meadows and maintain them clear. Eight butterfly species are at risk of extinction in this region, including Freyja’s fritillary and the Arctic ringlet.
“The biggest environment for all these pollinating species is flower-rich grassland and that is vanishing rapidly in Europe because of all these elements,” said one of the lead coordinators of the butterflies assessment. “The positive thing is that so many citizens are concerned now and there’s a lot more consciousness. Under the European Union nature restoration law, all participating nations have to halt the decline in pollinating species by the year 2030, and they are going to have to initiate measures. There are property owners who are engaged. Let’s hope they can receive the motivations that will help them on their way.”
As stated by the coordinator, there is “readily achievable actions” in terms of measures for pollinating insects which won’t reduce food production – and might boost it – such as farmers creating bloom-filled edges around their cultivated areas.
the EU’s environment commissioner, described the preservation condition of non-managed bees, butterfly species and other pollinating insects as “critical”.
“Prompt and unified steps is needed to tackle this risk. Along with participating nations, the Commission of the European Union has established an Europe-wide monitoring system for pollinating species based on the EU nature restoration regulation, which will aid in following our progress. Now, we need to prioritize implementation and cooperation with member countries to protect our pollinators,” she said.
The publication of the assessments on bees and butterflies follows the initial European-wide evaluation of hoverflies, a further vital pollinating insect category. Released in twenty-twenty-two, it revealed that 37% of all hoverfly types in Europe were at risk of extinction.
