The count of non-managed bee types in European nations confronting extinction has increased twofold in the last ten years, and the count of threatened butterfly has close to doubled.
This critical situation for crucial pollinating species was disclosed by scientific assessments for the red list of threatened species, which found that at least one hundred seventy-two bee types out of over 1900 were threatened with extinction in European nations.
The total of butterfly types at risk of extinction in European nations has grown from over thirty-five to sixty-five since the previous assessment, performed a decade and a half ago. One species, the Madeiran large white butterfly (Pieris wollastoni) has now been classified as extinct.
Apart from their visual charm and cultural value, pollinating species like bees along with butterflies are essential supports for our well-being, our food chains and our financial structures – sustaining the fruits, vegetables and seeds that feed us,” said the IUCN director general. “The most recent assessments of the European red list reveal major obstacles, with dangers growing for butterflies and vital non-managed bee types.”
The factors of the rapid recent declines are the persistent destruction or damage of habitats caused by farming intensification and deserted farmland, draining of wetlands, livestock overgrazing, and the application of pesticides and fertilisers including neonicotinoid chemicals. The breaking up of pollinator-friendly habitat greatly increases the danger of disappearances in specific areas.
Global warming is also revealed to be a significant danger: Fifty-two percent of all threatened butterfly types in Europe are endangered by the climate change crisis – roughly twofold the amount as a decade ago.
As many as 90% of flowering plants in the European continent rely on animal pollination, as per the wild bee assessment’s lead coordinator. “Sadly, non-managed bee groups are in severe drop and cannot readily be substituted by managed bee colonies,” he said. “If native bees vanish, many non-cultivated plants might be threatened too – of which meadows rich in flowers and attractive orchid varieties are just a handful of illustrations.”
Fifteen types of bumblebees, which play a crucial role in aiding the pollination of crops such as peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and 14 species of cellophane bee types, famous for aiding tree pollination such as willow trees and red maples, are now classified as threatened. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee type unique to the European continent and the single type of this genus group in Europe, is now classified as critically at risk – the scientific classification nearest to disappearance in the wild.
Butterflies that are solely present on high-altitude areas are particularly vulnerable to global warming as they have to climb upward as their environments become more heated but in the end have no room left. In the southern part of Spain, the grayling of Nevada and the Andalusian anomalous blue butterfly are among above 40 percent of species endemic to Europe (only found in Europe) threatened with extinction.
In the Mediterranean, varieties such as the severely threatened Karpathos grayling are imperilled by severe drought and wildfires.
At the same time, in the Arctic Circle, global warming is leading to the tree line to move north by tens of metres each year, with scrub invading wetlands and tundra. Hotter climates also mean Arctic deer can not anymore cross the ice sheets to graze Arctic grasslands and keep them open. Eight types of butterflies are threatened with extinction in this zone, including Freyja’s fritillary and the ringlet of the Arctic.
“The greatest habitat for all these pollinators is bloom-filled grassy areas and that is vanishing rapidly throughout Europe because of all these factors,” remarked Martin Warren. “The positive thing is that so many citizens care now and there’s a lot more understanding. Under the EU nature restoration legislation, all member countries have to reverse the decrease in pollinating insects by twenty-thirty, and they are going to have to initiate measures. There are property owners who are involved. It is hoped 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 pollinating insects which will not lower crop yields – and may enhance it – such as farmers developing margins rich in flowers around their fields.
the EU’s environment commissioner, described the conservation status of wild bees, butterflies and other pollinators as “severe”.
“Prompt and unified steps is necessary to address this risk. Together with participating nations, the European Commission has established an European Union-wide monitoring system for pollinating insects based on the European Union nature restoration legislation, which will help to track our development. Now, we need to concentrate on implementation and collaboration with member states to safeguard our pollinating insects,” she said.
The publication of the bee and butterfly assessments follows the pioneering EU-wide assessment of hoverflies, a further essential group of pollinators. Issued in 2022, it revealed that 37% of all hoverfly types in Europe were threatened with extinction.
