The total of native bee species in Europe facing dying out has increased twofold during the previous ten-year period, while the number of endangered butterfly has nearly doubled.
This critical situation for essential pollinating insects was revealed by scientific assessments for the red list of threatened species, which determined that at least over 170 bee varieties out of over 1900 were facing extinction in Europe.
The total of butterflies at risk of extinction in European nations has grown from thirty-seven to 65 since the last study, conducted a decade and a half ago. One species, the Madeiran large white (Pieris wollastoni) has now been classified as extinct.
In addition to their visual charm and cultural value, pollinating species like bees along with butterflies are crucial elements for our physical condition, our food supplies and our economic systems – supporting the fruits, veggies and seeds that feed us,” commented the IUCN director general. “The newest European red list evaluations reveal significant difficulties, with risks mounting for butterfly types and crucial non-managed bee species.”
The causes of the rapid recent declines are the persistent destruction or damage of living environments caused by intensive agriculture and abandoned land, draining of wetlands, livestock overgrazing, and the application of chemical fertilisers and pesticides including neonicotinoids. The division of habitat friendly to pollinators substantially boosts the danger of local extinctions.
Climate change is also revealed to be a primary risk: Over half of all endangered butterfly types in Europe are endangered by the climate crisis – about double the number as a ten years ago.
As many as nine out of ten of plants that flower in Europe rely on pollination by animals, as stated by the wild bee assessment’s lead coordinator. “Unfortunately, wild bee groups are in severe drop and cannot readily be substituted by domesticated hives,” he said. “If wild bees die out, many non-cultivated 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 fertilizing crops such as peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and fourteen varieties of cellophane bee types, known for fertilizing trees such as willows and red maples, are now classified as threatened. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee found only in the continent and the sole species of this genus group in Europe, is now evaluated as critically at risk – the scientific category nearest to dying out in natural habitats.
Butterfly types that are solely present on mountain peaks are particularly vulnerable to global warming as they need to move uphill as their living spaces become hotter but ultimately exhaust available space. In the southern part of Spain, the grayling of Nevada and the Andalusian anomalous blue are among over forty percent of types unique to Europe (exclusive to Europe) facing extinction.
In the Mediterranean region, types such as the highly at-risk Karpathos grayling are threatened by severe dry conditions and fires.
Meanwhile, in the Far North, climate change is leading to the forest boundary to advance northwards by many meters each year, with underbrush taking over marsh and tundra. Warmer conditions also mean reindeer can no more cross the ice sheets to feed on northern grasslands and keep them open. 8 butterfly varieties are threatened with extinction in this zone, including Freyja’s fritillary butterfly and the Arctic ringlet.
“The biggest environment for all these pollinating insects is flower-rich grassland and that is vanishing rapidly across Europe because of all these reasons,” 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 awareness. Under the EU nature restoration legislation, all participating nations have to reverse 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. It is hoped they can get the encouragements that will support them on their way.”
As stated by the coordinator, there is “easy opportunities” in terms of steps for pollinators which will not decrease crop yields – and may enhance it – such as farmers establishing bloom-filled edges around their farmland.
the EU’s environment commissioner, described the conservation status of wild bees, butterflies and other pollinators as “severe”.
“Urgent and collective action is required to tackle this danger. Along with member states, the EU Commission has implemented an European Union-wide tracking system for pollinating species based on the EU nature restoration regulation, which will help to track our development. Now, we need to concentrate on execution and collaboration with participating nations to protect our pollinating species,” she said.
The release of the bee and butterfly assessments is subsequent to the pioneering European-wide assessment of hoverflies, another crucial group of pollinators. Released in 2022, it disclosed that over one-third of all hoverfly varieties in the European continent were at risk of extinction.
