The number of wild bee varieties in the European continent confronting extinction has increased twofold over the past decade, while the total of at-risk butterfly species has almost doubled.
This critical situation for crucial pollinators was unveiled by scientific studies for the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) red list, which found that at least over 170 bee species out of over 1900 were at risk of extinction in the European continent.
The number of butterfly species threatened with extinction in the European continent has risen from thirty-seven to over sixty since the previous assessment, conducted over a decade past. One species, the Madeiran large white butterfly (Pieris wollastoni) has now been confirmed extinct.
“Beyond their beauty and cultural value, pollinating species like bees and butterfly species are essential supports for our health, our food supplies and our financial structures – maintaining the fruits, vegetables and seeds that sustain us,” commented Grethel Aguilar. “The newest assessments of the European red list reveal significant difficulties, with dangers growing for butterfly types and crucial native bee varieties.”
The causes of the quick recent decreases are the persistent destruction or damage of living environments caused by agricultural intensification and deserted farmland, draining of wetlands, overgrazing by livestock, and the use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides including neonicotinoid chemicals. The division of environments suitable for pollinators greatly increases the danger of extinctions at local level.
Climate change is also revealed to be a major threat: 52% of all at-risk butterfly species in the European continent are threatened by the climate emergency – roughly double the number as a decade ago.
As many as ninety percent of flowering plants in Europe rely on pollination by animals, as per the wild bee assessment’s lead coordinator. “Regrettably, native bee colonies are in severe drop and cannot readily be substituted by domesticated hives,” he said. “If native bees disappear, many native plants might be in danger as well – of which flower-rich meadows and attractive orchid varieties are just a couple of instances.”
Fifteen species of bumblebee types, which have an essential part in aiding the pollination of crops such as peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and 14 types of cellophane bee species, famous for fertilizing trees such as willows and red maples, are now listed as threatened. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee type unique to the European continent and the only species of this biological genus in European nations, is now evaluated as critically endangered – the scientific category most akin to disappearance in the wild.
Butterfly types that are exclusively located on mountain tops are highly susceptible to global heating as they need to move uphill as their environments become hotter but ultimately have no room left. In the southern part of Spain, the Nevada grayling butterfly and the anomalous blue of Andalusia are among more than 40% of European endemics (only found in Europe) facing extinction.
In the Mediterranean region, species such as the severely threatened Karpathos grayling butterfly are endangered by severe wildfires and drought.
Meanwhile, in the Arctic Circle, global warming is leading to the timberline to advance northwards by many meters each year, with underbrush encroaching on marsh and tundra. Hotter climates also mean caribou can no longer cross the frozen water to browse northern grasslands and prevent them from overgrowing. Eight types of butterflies are facing extinction in this zone, including Freyja’s fritillary and the Arctic ringlet.
“The largest habitat for all these pollinators is bloom-filled grassy areas and that is declining quickly across the European continent because of all these elements,” remarked Martin Warren. “The encouraging aspect is that so many citizens are concerned now and there’s a lot more understanding. Under the European Union nature restoration law, all participating nations have to halt the decrease in pollinating species by twenty-thirty, and they are going to have to begin taking action. There are landowners who are engaged. It is hoped they can obtain the encouragements that will help them on their way.”
As stated by the coordinator, there is “easy opportunities” in terms of measures for pollinating insects which will not decrease food production – and could improve it – such as growers creating margins rich in flowers around their fields.
Jessika Roswall, described the preservation condition of non-managed bees, butterfly species and other pollinating insects as “severe”.
“Immediate and joint measures is necessary to tackle this risk. Along with member countries, the European Commission has established an Europe-wide monitoring system for pollinators based on the European Union nature restoration legislation, which will assist in monitoring our advancement. Now, we need to focus on execution and cooperation with member countries to preserve our pollinators,” she said.
The release of the bee and butterfly assessments comes after the initial European-wide study on hoverflies, a further crucial pollinating insect category. Published in twenty-twenty-two, it showed that thirty-seven percent of all hoverfly species in the European continent were at risk of extinction.
