The count of non-managed bee types in Europe confronting extinction has more than doubled in the last ten years, whereas the total of endangered butterfly has nearly doubled.
This critical situation for vital pollinating insects was revealed by scientific assessments for the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) red list, which established that at least one hundred seventy-two bee types out of 1,928 were facing extinction in the European continent.
The number of butterfly types at risk of extinction in Europe has increased from 37 to 65 since the previous assessment, conducted 14 years ago. One type, the Madeiran large white butterfly (Pieris wollastoni) has now been classified as extinct.
“Beyond their visual charm and cultural value, pollinating insects like bees along with butterflies are lifelines for our well-being, our food systems and our economies – supporting the fruits, vegetables and seeds that sustain us,” commented the IUCN director general. “The most recent European red list evaluations reveal major obstacles, with dangers mounting for butterfly species and vital native bee types.”
The factors of the rapid recent declines are the persistent harm or degradation of living environments caused by intensive agriculture and deserted farmland, draining wetlands, overgrazing by livestock, and the application of pesticides and fertilisers including neonicotinoid pesticides. The fragmentation of environments suitable for pollinators greatly increases the risk of disappearances in specific areas.
Climate change is also revealed to be a significant danger: Fifty-two percent of all endangered butterfly species in Europe are imperilled by the climate crisis – approximately double the number as a ten years ago.
As many as ninety percent of blooming plants in the European continent depend on insect pollination, as stated by Dr Denis Michez. “Sadly, wild bee populations are in sharp decrease and cannot readily be substituted by domesticated hives,” he said. “If wild bees die out, many native plants might be threatened too – of which flower-rich meadows and lovely orchid types are just a few examples.”
Fifteen species of bumblebee types, which perform a vital function in fertilizing peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and 14 species of cellophane bee types, famous for fertilizing trees such as willows along with red maples, are now classified as threatened. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee species unique to the mainland and the sole species of this genus group in Europe, is now assessed as critically endangered – the scientific category nearest to extinction in the wild.
Butterflies that are exclusively located on mountain tops are especially at risk to global warming as they have to climb upward as their habitats become warmer but ultimately exhaust available space. In the southern part of Spain, the Nevada grayling butterfly and the Andalusian anomalous blue butterfly are among more than 40% of European endemics (solely present in Europe) threatened with extinction.
In the Mediterranean area, types such as the highly at-risk Karpathos grayling butterfly are imperilled by intense drought and wildfires.
At the same time, in the Arctic Circle, climate change is causing the tree line to move north by many meters each year, with bushes invading marsh and tundra. Hotter climates also mean Arctic deer can not anymore cross the ice sheets to feed on northern grasslands and maintain them clear. Eight butterfly species are at risk of extinction in this region, including Freyja’s fritillary and the Arctic ringlet.
“The greatest environment for all these pollinators is grassland rich in flowers and that is vanishing rapidly across Europe because of all these elements,” remarked a lead coordinator for the butterfly assessment. “The good news is that so many individuals are aware now and there’s a lot more understanding. Under the EU nature restoration legislation, all member states have to halt the decrease in pollinators by the year 2030, and they are going to have to begin taking action. There are land holders who are engaged. We hope they can get the motivations that will assist them on their way.”
According to Warren, there is “easy opportunities” in terms of measures for pollinators which won’t reduce agricultural output – and may enhance it – such as farmers creating bloom-filled edges around their fields.
the EU’s environment commissioner, portrayed the protection status of native bees, butterflies and additional pollinators as “critical”.
“Urgent and collective action is necessary to address this danger. In collaboration with participating nations, the EU Commission has established an European Union-wide tracking system for pollinating insects based on the European Union nature restoration legislation, which will help to track our advancement. Now, we need to focus on execution and partnership with participating nations to protect our pollinating insects,” she said.
The publication of the assessments on bees and butterflies follows the initial European-wide assessment of hoverflies, a further vital pollinator group. Published in twenty-twenty-two, it showed that thirty-seven percent of all hoverfly varieties in Europe were at risk of extinction.
