The count of non-managed bee varieties in European nations confronting extinction has over doubled during the previous ten-year period, while the number of threatened butterfly has close to doubled.
This critical situation for crucial pollinators was revealed by scientific assessments for the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) red list, which established that at least over 170 bee varieties out of 1,928 were facing extinction in the European continent.
The number of butterfly species threatened with extinction in the European continent has grown from over thirty-five to over sixty since the previous assessment, conducted a decade and a half ago. One species, the large white of Madeira (Pieris wollastoni) has now been classified as extinct.
In addition to their aesthetic appeal and cultural value, pollinating insects like bees and butterflies are crucial elements for our physical condition, our food supplies and our financial structures – sustaining the fruits, vegetables and seeds that sustain us,” commented the IUCN director general. “The latest European red list evaluations reveal serious challenges, with dangers mounting for butterfly types and essential wild bee species.”
The reasons of the rapid recent declines are the continuing destruction or damage of habitats caused by farming intensification and land abandonment, draining wetlands, livestock overgrazing, and the use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides including neonicotinoids. The breaking up of environments suitable for pollinators greatly increases the danger of disappearances in specific areas.
Climate change is also shown to be a significant danger: Over half of all at-risk butterflies in European nations are threatened by the climate emergency – roughly twofold the amount as a decade ago.
As many as ninety percent of blooming plants in European nations require insect pollination, as per the wild bee assessment’s lead coordinator. “Regrettably, wild bee colonies are in severe drop and cannot be easily replaced by managed bee colonies,” he said. “If wild bees disappear, many wild plants might be at risk too – of which meadows rich in flowers and lovely orchid types are just a few examples.”
15 varieties of bumblebee types, which perform a vital function in pollinating peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and 14 species of cellophane bee types, known for pollinating trees such as willows and red maples, are now listed as threatened. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee species unique to the continent and the single type of this genus in Europe, is now evaluated as severely threatened – the scientific category nearest to dying out in natural habitats.
Butterfly species that are solely present on high-altitude areas are highly susceptible to global warming as they have to climb upward as their habitats become warmer but ultimately have no room left. In southern Spain, the Nevada grayling butterfly and the Andalusian anomalous blue butterfly are among more than 40% of species endemic to Europe (exclusive to Europe) threatened with extinction.
In the Mediterranean, types such as the severely threatened Karpathos grayling butterfly are endangered by intense wildfires and drought.
At the same time, in the Arctic Circle, global warming is leading to the forest boundary to move north by tens of metres each year, with bushes encroaching on bog and tundra. Hotter climates also mean caribou can not anymore cross the ice to graze Arctic meadows and prevent them from overgrowing. Eight types of butterflies are threatened with extinction in this zone, including Freyja’s fritillary butterfly and the Arctic ringlet butterfly.
“The greatest environment for all these pollinating insects is grassland rich in flowers and that is declining quickly throughout Europe because of all these elements,” said Martin Warren. “The encouraging aspect is that so many individuals are concerned now and there’s a lot more consciousness. Under the EU nature restoration legislation, all member states have to halt the decrease in pollinators by 2030, and they are going to have to initiate measures. There are landowners who are interested. It is hoped they can get the motivations that will help them on their way.”
As per the coordinator, there is “low-hanging fruit” in terms of measures for pollinators which will not lower food production – and may enhance it – such as agricultural producers creating bloom-filled edges around their farmland.
EU commissioner for environment, characterized the protection status of non-managed bees, butterfly species and other pollinating insects as “critical”.
“Immediate and joint measures is needed to confront this threat. Along with participating nations, the Commission of the European Union has established an European Union-wide monitoring system for pollinating species based on the EU nature restoration regulation, which will assist in monitoring our advancement. Now, we need to focus on application and partnership with member countries to protect our pollinating insects,” she said.
The issuance of the assessments on bees and butterflies follows the first EU-wide study on hoverflies, an additional vital pollinator group. Released in twenty-twenty-two, it showed that thirty-seven percent of all hoverfly species in the European continent were threatened with extinction.
