The count of native bee varieties in the European continent experiencing dying out has increased twofold over the past decade, while the total of at-risk butterfly has close to doubled.
This dire scenario for vital pollinating species was disclosed by scientific assessments for the IUCN red list, which established that at least 172 bee types out of 1,928 were threatened with extinction in European nations.
The count of butterfly species threatened with extinction in the European continent has grown from thirty-seven to sixty-five since the earlier research, conducted over a decade past. One type, the Madeiran large white butterfly (Pieris wollastoni) has now been confirmed extinct.
“Beyond their visual charm and cultural significance, pollinating insects like bees and butterfly species are crucial elements for our physical condition, our food supplies and our economic systems – supporting the produce, vegetables and seeds that feed us,” commented Grethel Aguilar. “The newest assessments of the European red list reveal serious challenges, with risks growing for butterfly types and crucial wild bee varieties.”
The causes of the rapid recent declines are the persistent destruction or damage of natural habitats caused by agricultural intensification and abandoned land, draining of wetlands, excessive grazing by animals, and the utilization of fertilisers and pesticides including neonicotinoid chemicals. The fragmentation of habitat friendly to pollinators significantly raises the danger of disappearances in specific areas.
Global heating is also revealed to be a primary risk: 52% of all endangered butterfly types in the European continent are threatened by the climate change crisis – about double the number as a decade ago.
Nearly ninety percent of blooming plants in Europe require animal pollination, according to Dr Denis Michez. “Regrettably, non-managed bee colonies are in sharp decrease and cannot readily be substituted by managed bee colonies,” he said. “If non-managed bees die out, many wild plants might be at risk too – of which meadows rich in flowers and attractive orchid varieties are just a couple of instances.”
15 varieties of bumblebees, which perform a vital function in pollinating crops such as peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and 14 types of cellophane bee types, famous for pollinating trees such as willow trees and red maples, are now categorized as at-risk. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee type unique to the European continent and the only species of this genus group in the European continent, is now classified as critically at risk – the scientific classification most akin to dying out in natural habitats.
Butterfly types that are exclusively located on high-altitude areas are especially at risk to global heating as they must ascend higher as their habitats become warmer but ultimately have no room left. In southern Spain, the Nevada grayling and the anomalous blue of Andalusia are among over forty percent of species endemic to Europe (exclusive to Europe) threatened with extinction.
In the Mediterranean region, types such as the critically endangered grayling of Karpathos are imperilled by severe dry conditions and fires.
At the same time, in the Far North, global warming is leading to the timberline to move north by tens of metres each year, with bushes taking over bog and tundra. Warmer conditions also mean Arctic deer can no more cross the frozen water to browse northern grasslands and prevent them from overgrowing. Eight butterfly species are at risk of extinction in this zone, including Freyja’s fritillary and the ringlet of the Arctic.
“The largest living space for all these pollinators is flower-rich grassland and that is disappearing very fast across the European continent because of all these factors,” stated a lead coordinator for the butterfly assessment. “The encouraging aspect is that so many people care now and there’s a lot more understanding. Under the EU’s nature restoration regulation, all participating nations have to reverse the decline in pollinating species by the year 2030, and they are going to have to start doing something. There are land holders who are engaged. We hope they can receive the motivations that will help them on their way.”
As per Warren, there is “easy opportunities” in terms of measures for pollinating insects which will not lower agricultural output – and may enhance it – such as growers creating flower-rich margins around their farmland.
EU commissioner for environment, portrayed the preservation condition of native bees, butterflies and additional pollinators as “critical”.
“Prompt and unified steps is required to address this risk. In collaboration with member countries, the Commission of the European Union has implemented an Europe-wide observation system for pollinating species based on the European Union nature restoration legislation, which will help to track our development. Now, we need to prioritize execution and partnership with participating nations to preserve our pollinating species,” she said.
The publication of the evaluations of bees along with butterflies comes after the pioneering EU-wide study on hoverflies, an additional essential pollinator group. Published in 2022, it showed that over one-third of all hoverfly species in the European continent were facing extinction.
