The number of wild bee varieties in the European continent confronting dying out has more than doubled during the previous ten-year period, while the total of at-risk butterfly species has close to doubled.
This dire scenario for essential pollinating insects was unveiled by scientific studies for the IUCN red list, which established that at least over 170 bee varieties out of over 1900 were at risk of extinction in the European continent.
The total of butterflies threatened with extinction in the European continent has risen from 37 to 65 since the previous assessment, performed a decade and a half ago. A single species, the Madeiran large white (Pieris wollastoni) has now been confirmed extinct.
“Beyond their visual charm and cultural significance, pollinators like bees along with butterflies are crucial elements for our well-being, our food systems and our financial structures – sustaining the fruits, veggies and seeds that nourish us,” said the IUCN director general. “The newest assessments of the European red list reveal serious challenges, with risks increasing for butterflies and crucial wild bee varieties.”
The factors of the quick recent decreases are the ongoing harm or degradation of living environments caused by farming intensification and land abandonment, draining wetlands, overgrazing by livestock, and the application of chemical fertilisers and pesticides including neonicotinoid chemicals. The fragmentation of environments suitable for pollinators greatly increases the threat of extinctions at local level.
Climate change is also demonstrated to be a significant danger: Over half of all endangered butterfly species in the European continent are threatened by the climate crisis – approximately twofold the amount as a decade ago.
As many as nine out of ten of blooming plants in Europe require animal pollination, as per the lead coordinator of the wild bee assessment. “Sadly, non-managed bee populations are in sharp decrease and are not easily replaceable by managed colonies,” he said. “If wild bees die out, many non-cultivated plants might be threatened too – of which flower-rich meadows and beautiful orchid species are just a handful of illustrations.”
Fifteen types of bumblebees, which have an essential part in aiding the pollination of peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and fourteen varieties of cellophane bees, famous for fertilizing trees such as willow trees and red maples, are now classified as threatened. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee species found only in the continent and the single type of this biological genus in the European continent, is now classified as critically endangered – the research category closest to dying out in natural habitats.
Butterfly types that are exclusively located on mountain peaks are particularly vulnerable to global warming as they must ascend higher as their habitats become hotter but ultimately exhaust available space. In southern Spain, the Nevada grayling and the Andalusian anomalous blue are among more than 40% of types unique to Europe (only found in Europe) at risk of extinction.
In the Mediterranean area, varieties such as the severely threatened Karpathos grayling are imperilled by intense dry conditions and fires.
In the meantime, in the Far North, global heating is leading to the timberline to advance northwards by tens of metres each year, with underbrush encroaching on wetlands and tundra. Warmer conditions also mean Arctic deer can no longer cross the ice to feed on Arctic grasslands and prevent them from overgrowing. 8 butterfly varieties are facing extinction in this area, including the fritillary of Freyja and the Arctic ringlet.
“The largest living space for all these pollinators is bloom-filled grassy areas and that is vanishing rapidly throughout European nations because of all these elements,” said a lead coordinator for the butterfly assessment. “The good news is that so many people are aware now and there’s a lot more consciousness. Under the EU nature restoration legislation, all member countries have to turn around the decrease in pollinating species by 2030, and they are going to have to begin taking action. There are property owners who are involved. We hope they can obtain the encouragements that will help them on their way.”
As stated by the coordinator, there is “low-hanging fruit” in terms of steps for pollinating insects which will not decrease agricultural output – and may enhance it – such as agricultural producers establishing bloom-filled edges around their cultivated areas.
the EU’s environment commissioner, characterized the conservation status of wild bees, butterflies and other pollinators as “critical”.
“Urgent and collective action is necessary to address this danger. In collaboration with member countries, the European Commission has put in place an Europe-wide tracking system for pollinators based on the EU nature restoration regulation, which will aid in following our progress. Now, we need to prioritize application and partnership with member countries to safeguard our pollinators,” she said.
The release of the bee and butterfly assessments comes after the initial Europe-wide evaluation of hoverflies, another essential pollinating insect category. Published in 2022, it revealed that over one-third of all hoverfly types in the European continent were facing extinction.
