The count of wild bee types in Europe facing disappearance has increased twofold in the last ten years, while the number of threatened butterfly species has close to doubled.
This pressing issue for crucial pollinators 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 types out of 1,928 were at risk of extinction in the European continent.
The total of butterflies threatened with extinction in Europe has risen from over thirty-five to 65 since the last study, carried out 14 years ago. One type, the Madeiran large white (Pieris wollastoni) has now been classified as extinct.
Apart from their beauty and cultural importance, pollinating species like bees and butterflies are lifelines for our health, our food supplies and our financial structures – supporting the produce, vegetables and seeds that nourish us,” commented Grethel Aguilar. “The most recent assessments of the European red list reveal major obstacles, with risks growing for butterfly species and vital wild bee types.”
The causes of the swift recent drops are the ongoing destruction or damage of habitats caused by farming intensification and abandoned land, draining of wetlands, livestock overgrazing, and the application of pesticides and fertilisers including neonicotinoid chemicals. The division of pollinator-friendly habitat substantially boosts the risk of disappearances in specific areas.
Global heating is also shown to be a primary risk: 52% of all endangered butterfly species in European nations are endangered by the climate change crisis – approximately twofold the amount as a decade ago.
Nearly 90% of plants that flower in the European continent require animal pollination, as stated by the lead coordinator of the wild bee assessment. “Sadly, wild bee colonies are in drastic decline and cannot be easily replaced by domesticated hives,” he said. “If native bees vanish, many wild plants might be in danger as well – of which flower-rich meadows and beautiful orchid species are just a handful of illustrations.”
Fifteen species of bumblebees, which have an essential part in fertilizing peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and 14 species of cellophane bee species, recognized for aiding tree pollination such as willows and red maples, are now listed as threatened. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee found only in the continent and the only species of this biological genus in European nations, is now classified as severely threatened – the scientific classification most akin to dying out in natural habitats.
Butterfly species that are exclusively located on mountain tops are especially at risk to global heating as they have to climb upward as their living spaces become more heated but eventually run out of space. In the southern part of Spain, the Nevada grayling butterfly and the Andalusian anomalous blue are among above 40 percent of European endemics (solely present in Europe) facing extinction.
In the Mediterranean region, types such as the critically endangered grayling of Karpathos are endangered by severe wildfires and drought.
Meanwhile, in the Arctic region, global warming is causing the timberline to move north by dozens of meters each year, with underbrush taking over bog and tundra. Hotter climates also mean caribou can no more cross the ice to feed on Arctic meadows and maintain them clear. Eight butterfly species are facing extinction in this area, including Freyja’s fritillary butterfly and the Arctic ringlet butterfly.
“The greatest habitat for all these pollinating insects is flower-rich grassland and that is declining quickly throughout the European continent because of all these reasons,” remarked a lead coordinator for the butterfly assessment. “The positive thing is that so many people care now and there’s a lot more understanding. Under the EU nature restoration legislation, all member countries have to halt the drop in pollinators by the year 2030, and they are going to have to begin taking action. There are landowners who are interested. Let’s hope they can obtain the encouragements that will help them on their way.”
As per the coordinator, there is “easy opportunities” in terms of measures for pollinating insects which won’t reduce agricultural output – and might boost it – such as growers developing margins rich in flowers around their cultivated areas.
EU commissioner for environment, characterized the protection status of wild bees, butterflies and other pollinators as “dire”.
“Immediate and joint measures is required to confront this danger. In collaboration with member countries, the EU Commission has put in place an EU-wide observation system for pollinators based on the European Union nature restoration legislation, which will assist in monitoring our development. Now, we need to concentrate on implementation and partnership with member states to preserve our pollinating insects,” she said.
The publication of the assessments on bees and butterflies follows the initial EU-wide assessment of hoverflies, an additional essential group of pollinators. Released in 2022, it showed that 37% of all hoverfly types in the European continent were at risk of extinction.
