The total of wild bee species in Europe confronting extinction has over doubled during the previous ten-year period, while the count of endangered butterfly types has almost doubled.
This critical situation for crucial pollinating species was unveiled by research studies for the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) red list, which determined that at least one hundred seventy-two bee species out of nearly two thousand were at risk of extinction in European nations.
The count of butterfly species facing extinction in European nations has increased from 37 to 65 since the previous assessment, conducted a decade and a half ago. One species, the Madeiran large white butterfly (Pieris wollastoni) has now been classified as extinct.
Apart from their visual charm and cultural significance, pollinators like bees along with butterflies are essential supports for our health, our food systems and our economies – maintaining the fruits, vegetables and seeds that nourish us,” stated the IUCN director general. “The newest assessments of the European red list reveal significant difficulties, with risks mounting for butterfly types and essential non-managed bee species.”
The causes of the swift recent drops are the continuing damage or destruction of habitats caused by agricultural intensification and deserted farmland, draining of wetlands, livestock overgrazing, and the utilization of fertilisers and pesticides including neonicotinoid chemicals. The fragmentation of habitat friendly to pollinators greatly increases the risk of extinctions at local level.
Global warming is also demonstrated to be a major threat: 52% of all threatened butterfly species in the European continent are threatened by the climate change crisis – approximately double the number as a ten years ago.
As many as 90% of plants that flower in Europe depend on animal pollination, according to the lead coordinator of the wild bee assessment. “Regrettably, native bee populations are in sharp decrease and cannot be easily replaced by managed bee colonies,” he said. “If non-managed bees vanish, many non-cultivated plants might be in danger as well – of which flower-rich meadows and beautiful orchid species are just a few examples.”
Fifteen species of bumblebee types, which perform a vital function in aiding the pollination of peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and 14 types of cellophane bee types, famous for fertilizing trees such as willows along with red maples, are now categorized as at-risk. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee type found only in the European continent and the only species of this biological genus in the European continent, is now classified as severely threatened – the research category most akin to extinction in the wild.
Butterfly species that are only found on high-altitude areas are highly susceptible to global heating as they must ascend higher as their environments become more heated but ultimately have no room left. In southern Spain, the Nevada grayling and the Andalusian anomalous blue are among above 40 percent of species endemic to Europe (only found in Europe) threatened with extinction.
In the Mediterranean area, varieties such as the highly at-risk grayling of Karpathos are imperilled by severe drought and wildfires.
At the same time, in the Arctic Circle, global warming is causing the timberline to move north by dozens of meters each year, with underbrush taking over wetlands and tundra. Higher temperatures also mean caribou can no longer cross the frozen water to browse Arctic grasslands and prevent them from overgrowing. Eight types of butterflies are facing extinction in this area, including Freyja’s fritillary butterfly and the ringlet of the Arctic.
“The greatest habitat for all these pollinating insects is bloom-filled grassy areas and that is vanishing rapidly in European nations because of all these reasons,” remarked Martin Warren. “The positive thing is that so many citizens are aware now and there’s a lot more consciousness. Under the European Union nature restoration law, all participating nations have to turn around the decline in pollinating species by twenty-thirty, and they are going to have to initiate measures. There are land holders who are interested. We hope they can get the incentives that will help them on their way.”
According to the coordinator, there is “easy opportunities” in terms of measures for pollinating insects which won’t reduce food production – and might boost it – such as growers creating flower-rich margins around their farmland.
EU commissioner for environment, described the conservation status of wild bees, butterflies and other pollinators as “severe”.
“Immediate and joint measures is necessary to address this risk. In collaboration with member countries, the Commission of the European Union has implemented an European Union-wide observation system for pollinators based on the EU nature restoration regulation, which will aid in following our development. Now, we need to concentrate on implementation and cooperation with member countries to safeguard our pollinating species,” she said.
The release of the assessments on bees and butterflies comes after the first European-wide evaluation of hoverflies, an additional crucial pollinating insect category. Released in 2022, it showed that thirty-seven percent of all hoverfly varieties in the European continent were at risk of extinction.
