The number of non-managed bee species in European nations confronting dying out has increased twofold in the last ten years, whereas the number of endangered butterfly types has nearly doubled.
This critical situation for vital pollinating species was disclosed by scientific assessments for the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) red list, which found that at least one hundred seventy-two bee varieties out of over 1900 were threatened with extinction in Europe.
The number of butterfly types at risk of extinction in European nations has grown from thirty-seven to sixty-five since the earlier research, carried out over a decade past. One species, the Madeiran large white (Pieris wollastoni) has now been classified as extinct.
Apart from their aesthetic appeal and cultural significance, pollinators like bees and butterflies are lifelines for our health, our food systems and our economies – maintaining the fruits, veggies and seeds that sustain us,” stated the IUCN’s director general. “The newest European red list assessments reveal serious challenges, with threats increasing for butterfly species and crucial non-managed bee types.”
The causes of the swift recent drops are the ongoing harm or degradation of living environments caused by intensive agriculture and land abandonment, draining of wetlands, livestock overgrazing, and the use of fertilisers and pesticides including neonicotinoid chemicals. The division of habitat friendly to pollinators significantly raises the threat of extinctions at local level.
Global heating is also demonstrated to be a primary risk: Over half of all endangered butterfly species in Europe are imperilled by the climate change crisis – about twofold the amount as a ten years ago.
As many as 90% of blooming plants in Europe require animal pollination, according to the wild bee assessment’s lead coordinator. “Regrettably, wild bee colonies are in drastic decline and cannot readily be substituted by managed colonies,” he said. “If non-managed bees disappear, many non-cultivated plants might be threatened too – of which meadows rich in flowers and lovely orchid types are just a handful of illustrations.”
Fifteen types of bumblebees, which have an essential part in aiding the pollination of legumes like peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and fourteen varieties of cellophane bee species, famous for fertilizing trees such as willows along with red maples, are now listed as threatened. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee type unique to the mainland and the only species of this genus group in the European continent, is now assessed as critically at risk – the research category closest to dying out in natural habitats.
Butterflies that are exclusively located on mountain tops are especially at risk to climate change as they need to move uphill as their habitats become hotter but ultimately run out of space. In Spain’s southern region, the grayling of Nevada and the Andalusian anomalous blue are among more than 40% of species endemic to Europe (only found in Europe) facing extinction.
In the Mediterranean, species such as the highly at-risk grayling of Karpathos are imperilled by severe dry conditions and fires.
In the meantime, in the Arctic Circle, global heating is causing the timberline to move north by dozens of meters each year, with bushes invading bog and tundra. Hotter climates also mean reindeer can no more cross the frozen water to feed on Arctic grasslands and keep them open. Eight butterfly species are facing extinction in this area, including Freyja’s fritillary and the Arctic ringlet butterfly.
“The greatest habitat for all these pollinating species is bloom-filled grassy areas and that is declining quickly across Europe because of all these reasons,” remarked a lead coordinator for the butterfly assessment. “The good news is that so many people are concerned now and there’s a lot more understanding. Under the European Union nature restoration law, all member states have to reverse the decrease in pollinators by 2030, and they are going to have to initiate measures. There are property owners who are interested. We hope they can obtain the incentives that will support them on their way.”
As stated by the coordinator, there is “readily achievable actions” in terms of measures for pollinating species which won’t reduce food production – and may enhance it – such as agricultural producers establishing margins rich in flowers around their cultivated areas.
EU commissioner for environment, characterized the conservation status of non-managed bees, butterfly species and other pollinating insects as “severe”.
“Immediate and joint measures is necessary to confront this danger. In collaboration with member countries, the European Commission has put in place an European Union-wide observation system for pollinating insects based on the European Union nature restoration legislation, which will help to track our development. Now, we need to prioritize execution and partnership with member countries to protect our pollinating species,” she said.
The release of the assessments on bees and butterflies comes after the pioneering EU-wide study on hoverflies, an additional crucial group of pollinators. Published in 2022, it revealed that 37% of all hoverfly types in European nations were at risk of extinction.
