The total of native bee varieties in the European continent confronting extinction has over doubled during the previous ten-year period, and the total of at-risk butterfly species has close to doubled.
This pressing issue for essential pollinating species was disclosed by scientific studies for the IUCN red list, which established that at least over 170 bee types out of nearly two thousand were facing extinction in Europe.
The total of butterfly types threatened with extinction in the European continent has grown from over thirty-five to 65 since the earlier research, conducted over a decade past. A single species, the Madeiran large white (Pieris wollastoni) has now been declared extinct.
“Beyond their visual charm and cultural importance, pollinating insects like bees and butterflies are essential supports for our well-being, our food chains and our financial structures – supporting the fruits, vegetables and seeds that sustain us,” stated the IUCN’s director general. “The most recent European red list evaluations reveal significant difficulties, with risks mounting for butterfly types and essential wild bee varieties.”
The factors of the swift recent drops are the continuing destruction or damage of habitats caused by intensive agriculture and deserted farmland, draining wetlands, excessive grazing by animals, and the application of chemical fertilisers and pesticides including neonicotinoid chemicals. The breaking up of pollinator-friendly habitat significantly raises the risk of extinctions at local level.
Global warming is also revealed to be a major threat: Over half of all threatened butterflies in the European continent are imperilled by the climate emergency – approximately twofold the amount as a ten years ago.
Up to 90% of plants that flower in European nations rely on animal pollination, according to Dr Denis Michez. “Sadly, non-managed bee groups are in sharp decrease and cannot be easily replaced by managed colonies,” he said. “If non-managed bees vanish, many non-cultivated plants might be in danger as well – of which flower-rich meadows and attractive orchid varieties are just a handful of illustrations.”
Fifteen types of bumblebees, which play a crucial role in pollinating peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and 14 types of cellophane bees, famous for pollinating trees such as willows and red maples, are now categorized as at-risk. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee type exclusive to the mainland and the single type of this genus group in the European continent, is now evaluated as severely threatened – the scientific classification closest to extinction in the wild.
Butterfly species that are solely present on mountain peaks are particularly vulnerable to global heating as they must ascend higher as their living spaces become hotter but ultimately run out of space. In Spain’s southern region, the grayling of Nevada and the Andalusian anomalous blue are among above 40 percent of species endemic to Europe (solely present in Europe) at risk of extinction.
In the Mediterranean region, types such as the highly at-risk Karpathos grayling butterfly are endangered by intense wildfires and drought.
In the meantime, in the Far North, climate change is leading to the tree line to shift northward by tens of metres each year, with bushes encroaching on marsh and tundra. Higher temperatures also mean Arctic deer can no longer cross the ice to browse Arctic grasslands and keep them open. Eight butterfly species are facing extinction in this area, including the fritillary of Freyja and the Arctic ringlet.
“The biggest habitat for all these pollinating insects is flower-rich grassland and that is disappearing very fast across Europe because of all these reasons,” said one of the lead coordinators of the butterflies assessment. “The encouraging aspect is that so many individuals are aware now and there’s a lot more awareness. Under the EU’s nature restoration regulation, all member countries have to turn around the decrease in pollinating species by twenty-thirty, and they are going to have to initiate measures. There are property owners who are involved. It is hoped they can get the encouragements that will assist them on their way.”
As stated by Warren, there is “low-hanging fruit” in terms of steps for pollinating species which will not lower agricultural output – and might boost it – such as agricultural producers establishing flower-rich margins around their fields.
the EU’s environment commissioner, characterized the preservation condition of non-managed bees, butterfly species and other pollinating insects as “severe”.
“Urgent and collective action is required to tackle this threat. Together with participating nations, the EU Commission has put in place an Europe-wide observation system for pollinating insects based on the EU nature restoration law, which will help to track our development. Now, we need to focus on application and cooperation with member states to safeguard our pollinating insects,” she said.
The publication of the evaluations of bees along with butterflies comes after the initial EU-wide assessment of hoverflies, a further crucial group of pollinators. Published in twenty-twenty-two, it revealed that over one-third of all hoverfly types in Europe were threatened with extinction.
