The count of native bee types in the European continent facing disappearance has more than doubled in the last ten years, whereas the total of endangered butterfly has nearly doubled.
This critical situation for vital pollinating species was disclosed by scientific assessments for the red list of threatened species, which established that at least over 170 bee species out of over 1900 were facing extinction in the European continent.
The number of butterflies facing extinction in European nations has risen from over thirty-five to over sixty since the previous assessment, performed a decade and a half ago. One species, the large white of Madeira (Pieris wollastoni) has now been confirmed extinct.
Apart from their aesthetic appeal and cultural significance, pollinators like bees along with butterflies are lifelines for our physical condition, our food supplies and our economic systems – maintaining the fruits, veggies and seeds that nourish us,” commented Grethel Aguilar. “The most recent European red list assessments reveal significant difficulties, with threats growing for butterfly types and vital native bee species.”
The reasons of the swift recent drops are the persistent destruction or damage of natural habitats caused by agricultural intensification and deserted farmland, wetland drainage, overgrazing by livestock, and the use of pesticides and fertilisers including neonicotinoids. The breaking up of pollinator-friendly habitat greatly increases the risk of disappearances in specific areas.
Global heating is also demonstrated to be a primary risk: Over half of all at-risk butterflies in Europe are imperilled by the climate change crisis – roughly double the number as a previous decade.
Nearly 90% of blooming plants in the European continent depend on pollination by animals, as stated by the wild bee assessment’s lead coordinator. “Regrettably, wild bee colonies are in severe drop and cannot be easily replaced by domesticated hives,” he said. “If non-managed bees vanish, many wild plants might be in danger as well – of which bloom-filled grasslands and beautiful orchid species are just a couple of instances.”
15 varieties of bumblebee types, which have an essential part in fertilizing peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and 14 types of cellophane bee species, known for aiding tree pollination such as willows and red maples, are now listed as threatened. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee type exclusive to the mainland and the sole species of this biological genus in Europe, is now assessed as severely threatened – the scientific category nearest to disappearance in the wild.
Butterfly types that are solely present on high-altitude areas are highly susceptible to climate change as they must ascend higher as their living spaces become warmer but in the end run out of space. In the southern part of Spain, the Nevada grayling butterfly and the anomalous blue of Andalusia are among more than 40% of European endemics (solely present in Europe) facing extinction.
In the Mediterranean area, types such as the critically endangered grayling of Karpathos are threatened by severe dry conditions and fires.
At the same time, in the Arctic region, climate change is leading to the timberline to shift northward by many meters each year, with scrub encroaching on bog and tundra. Hotter climates also mean reindeer can no more cross the ice to feed on northern grasslands and prevent them from overgrowing. Eight butterfly species are facing extinction in this region, including Freyja’s fritillary and the ringlet of the Arctic.
“The greatest habitat for all these pollinating species is grassland rich in flowers and that is declining quickly throughout the European continent because of all these reasons,” stated Martin Warren. “The positive thing is that so many individuals are aware now and there’s a lot more understanding. Under the EU’s nature restoration regulation, all participating nations have to turn around the drop in pollinating insects by twenty-thirty, and they are going to have to begin taking action. There are land holders who are engaged. It is hoped they can get the incentives that will help them on their way.”
According to Martin Warren, there is “low-hanging fruit” in terms of steps for pollinating insects which will not lower crop yields – and could improve it – such as farmers creating flower-rich margins around their fields.
EU commissioner for environment, characterized the protection status of non-managed bees, butterfly species and other pollinating insects as “severe”.
“Immediate and joint measures is required to tackle this threat. Together with participating nations, the European Commission has implemented an Europe-wide observation system for pollinating insects based on the EU nature restoration law, which will assist in monitoring our progress. Now, we need to focus on execution and collaboration with member states to protect our pollinators,” she said.
The release of the bee and butterfly assessments comes after the initial Europe-wide study on hoverflies, a further crucial pollinating insect category. Published in 2022, it revealed that thirty-seven percent of all hoverfly species in Europe were at risk of extinction.
