The total of non-managed bee types in Europe experiencing extinction has over doubled during the previous ten-year period, and the count of endangered butterfly has close to doubled.
This critical situation for vital pollinating insects was disclosed by scientific studies for the IUCN red list, which established that at least one hundred seventy-two bee species out of nearly two thousand were threatened with extinction in the European continent.
The total of butterfly types at risk of extinction in European nations has risen from thirty-seven to 65 since the last study, conducted over a decade past. One species, the Madeiran large white (Pieris wollastoni) has now been confirmed extinct.
“Beyond their aesthetic appeal and cultural importance, pollinating insects like bees and butterflies are lifelines for our health, our food chains and our economic systems – sustaining the produce, vegetables and seeds that sustain us,” commented the IUCN’s director general. “The most recent European red list evaluations reveal serious challenges, with risks growing for butterfly types and essential native bee species.”
The factors of the rapid recent declines are the continuing destruction or damage of natural habitats caused by agricultural intensification and deserted farmland, wetland drainage, excessive grazing by animals, and the utilization of fertilisers and pesticides including neonicotinoids. The fragmentation of pollinator-friendly habitat substantially boosts the threat of local extinctions.
Global warming is also shown to be a significant danger: 52% of all threatened butterflies in Europe are threatened by the climate crisis – roughly double the number as a previous decade.
Nearly ninety percent of plants that flower in Europe rely on pollination by animals, according to Dr Denis Michez. “Unfortunately, non-managed bee populations are in severe drop and cannot be easily replaced by managed colonies,” he said. “If non-managed bees vanish, many wild plants might be at risk too – of which flower-rich meadows and attractive orchid varieties are just a few examples.”
Fifteen types of bumblebee types, which play a crucial role in aiding the pollination of crops such as peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and fourteen varieties of cellophane bees, famous for fertilizing trees such as willows and red maples, are now classified as threatened. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee species unique to the mainland and the only species of this genus in the European continent, is now classified as severely threatened – the scientific category most akin to extinction in the wild.
Butterfly species that are exclusively located on mountain tops are especially at risk to climate change as they must ascend higher as their habitats become warmer but eventually have no room left. In southern Spain, the grayling of Nevada and the Andalusian anomalous blue are among more than 40% of species endemic to Europe (exclusive to Europe) facing extinction.
In the Mediterranean region, species such as the highly at-risk Karpathos grayling butterfly are threatened by severe dry conditions and fires.
Meanwhile, in the Arctic Circle, global heating is leading to the tree line to advance northwards by tens of metres each year, with bushes taking over marsh and tundra. Higher temperatures also mean reindeer can no more cross the frozen water to browse Arctic grasslands and keep them open. Eight types of butterflies are at risk of extinction in this region, including Freyja’s fritillary butterfly and the Arctic ringlet butterfly.
“The biggest habitat for all these pollinators is flower-rich grassland and that is declining quickly across Europe because of all these factors,” remarked Martin Warren. “The encouraging aspect is that so many people are concerned now and there’s a lot more awareness. Under the EU’s nature restoration regulation, all member states have to turn around the decrease in pollinators by 2030, and they are going to have to begin taking action. There are land holders who are involved. Let’s hope they can obtain the encouragements that will support them on their way.”
As stated by Warren, there is “low-hanging fruit” in terms of action for pollinators which won’t reduce crop yields – and might boost it – such as agricultural producers developing bloom-filled edges around their cultivated areas.
EU commissioner for environment, described the protection status of wild bees, butterflies and other pollinators as “dire”.
“Prompt and unified steps is needed to tackle this threat. Along with member countries, the EU Commission has implemented an European Union-wide monitoring system for pollinators based on the European Union nature restoration legislation, which will assist in monitoring our progress. Now, we need to concentrate on execution and collaboration with member states to preserve our pollinating insects,” she said.
The issuance of the bee and butterfly assessments follows the pioneering EU-wide study on hoverflies, an additional essential pollinator group. Issued in 2022, it revealed that 37% of all hoverfly species in the European continent were threatened with extinction.
