The number of native bee types in the European continent experiencing dying out has increased twofold in the last ten years, whereas the number of threatened butterfly types has close to doubled.
This pressing issue for vital pollinating insects was disclosed by scientific studies for the IUCN red list, which determined that at least 172 bee varieties out of nearly two thousand were at risk of extinction in the European continent.
The count of butterflies facing extinction in European nations has risen from over thirty-five to 65 since the earlier research, performed over a decade past. One species, the Madeiran large white (Pieris wollastoni) has now been declared extinct.
In addition to their beauty and cultural value, pollinating insects like bees and butterfly species are lifelines for our health, our food chains and our economies – supporting the fruits, vegetables and seeds that nourish us,” said the IUCN director general. “The newest European red list evaluations reveal significant difficulties, with risks mounting for butterfly species and essential wild bee varieties.”
The factors of the swift recent drops are the persistent destruction or damage of natural habitats caused by farming intensification and land abandonment, wetland drainage, overgrazing by livestock, and the use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides including neonicotinoids. The fragmentation of habitat friendly to pollinators substantially boosts the threat of disappearances in specific areas.
Climate change is also demonstrated to be a significant danger: Fifty-two percent of all endangered butterflies in Europe are endangered by the climate crisis – about twice as many as a ten years ago.
Up to nine out of ten of blooming plants in the European continent depend on insect pollination, as per Dr Denis Michez. “Sadly, non-managed bee populations are in drastic decline and are not easily replaceable by domesticated hives,” he said. “If wild bees vanish, many wild plants might be in danger as well – of which flower-rich meadows and lovely orchid types are just a handful of illustrations.”
15 varieties of bumblebee species, which perform a vital function in pollinating peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and 14 types of cellophane bee types, recognized for pollinating trees such as willows along with red maples, are now listed as threatened. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee unique to the European continent and the sole species of this biological genus in Europe, is now assessed as critically endangered – the research category nearest to extinction in the wild.
Butterfly species that are solely present on mountain peaks are particularly vulnerable to climate change as they need to move uphill as their living spaces become warmer but ultimately exhaust available space. In southern Spain, the Nevada grayling and the anomalous blue of Andalusia are among more than 40% of species endemic to Europe (solely present in Europe) threatened with extinction.
In the Mediterranean, varieties such as the severely threatened Karpathos grayling butterfly are imperilled by intense wildfires and drought.
Meanwhile, in the Arctic Circle, global heating is causing the tree line to shift northward by many meters each year, with scrub encroaching on wetlands and tundra. Hotter climates also mean Arctic deer can no longer cross the ice sheets to feed on northern grasslands and prevent them from overgrowing. Eight butterfly species are facing extinction in this zone, including Freyja’s fritillary butterfly and the Arctic ringlet.
“The biggest living space for all these pollinating species is flower-rich grassland and that is disappearing very fast across European nations because of all these reasons,” remarked Martin Warren. “The positive thing is that so many citizens care now and there’s a lot more consciousness. Under the EU nature restoration legislation, all member countries have to halt the decrease in pollinating species by 2030, and they are going to have to start doing something. There are land holders who are interested. We hope they can receive the motivations that will support them on their way.”
As stated by Martin Warren, there is “readily achievable actions” in terms of action for pollinating species which will not decrease agricultural output – and might boost it – such as growers developing bloom-filled edges around their fields.
Jessika Roswall, characterized the conservation status of non-managed bees, butterfly species and other pollinating insects as “critical”.
“Immediate and joint measures is needed to tackle this risk. Together with member states, the Commission of the European Union has put in place an Europe-wide monitoring system for pollinating insects based on the EU nature restoration law, which will help to track our progress. Now, we need to prioritize application and collaboration with member states to protect our pollinators,” she said.
The release of the assessments on bees and butterflies follows the first European-wide assessment of hoverflies, an additional crucial pollinator group. Released in 2022, it showed that thirty-seven percent of all hoverfly species in Europe were facing extinction.
