The number of non-managed bee varieties in Europe facing disappearance has increased twofold in the last ten years, whereas the total of endangered butterfly types has nearly doubled.
This dire scenario for essential pollinators was revealed by scientific assessments for the IUCN red list, which found that at least 172 bee species out of 1,928 were at risk of extinction in European nations.
The number of butterfly types facing extinction in European nations has risen from over thirty-five to 65 since the last study, performed 14 years ago. One species, the Madeiran large white (Pieris wollastoni) has now been declared extinct.
In addition to their visual charm and cultural value, pollinators like bees and butterfly species are essential supports for our health, our food systems and our financial structures – maintaining the fruits, veggies and seeds that nourish us,” stated the IUCN director general. “The newest assessments of the European red list reveal major obstacles, with dangers growing for butterfly species and crucial non-managed bee types.”
The factors of the quick recent decreases are the ongoing harm or degradation of natural habitats caused by intensive agriculture and abandoned land, draining wetlands, livestock overgrazing, and the utilization of fertilisers and pesticides including neonicotinoid chemicals. The division of environments suitable for pollinators greatly increases the threat of extinctions at local level.
Climate change is also shown to be a major threat: Over half of all endangered butterfly species in European nations are threatened by the climate crisis – roughly double the number as a previous decade.
As many as 90% of blooming plants in the European continent rely on pollination by animals, according to Dr Denis Michez. “Regrettably, non-managed bee groups are in drastic decline and are not easily replaceable by managed bee colonies,” he said. “If native bees vanish, many wild plants might be at risk too – of which meadows rich in flowers and attractive orchid varieties are just a few examples.”
15 varieties of bumblebees, which perform a vital function in fertilizing crops such as peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and 14 types of cellophane bee types, known for aiding tree pollination such as willows along with red maples, are now classified as threatened. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee species found only in the continent and the single type of this biological genus in the European continent, is now evaluated as critically at risk – the research category nearest to extinction in the wild.
Butterfly species that are solely present on high-altitude areas are especially at risk to global heating as they must ascend higher as their habitats become hotter but in the end have no room left. In southern Spain, the Nevada grayling butterfly and the Andalusian anomalous blue are among over forty percent of European endemics (only found in Europe) facing extinction.
In the Mediterranean area, types such as the highly at-risk grayling of Karpathos are imperilled by severe dry conditions and fires.
Meanwhile, in the Arctic Circle, global warming is leading to the tree line to advance northwards by dozens of meters each year, with scrub taking over marsh and tundra. Warmer conditions also mean reindeer can no longer cross the ice to graze Arctic grasslands and keep them open. Eight types of butterflies are facing extinction in this zone, including Freyja’s fritillary butterfly and the Arctic ringlet.
“The greatest living space for all these pollinating species is bloom-filled grassy areas and that is vanishing rapidly in European nations because of all these reasons,” stated Martin Warren. “The encouraging aspect is that so many people care now and there’s a lot more awareness. Under the European Union nature restoration law, all member states have to reverse the drop in pollinating insects by twenty-thirty, and they are going to have to begin taking action. There are property owners who are interested. Let’s hope they can obtain the encouragements that will help them on their way.”
As stated by Martin Warren, there is “low-hanging fruit” in terms of steps for pollinating insects which will not lower crop yields – and might boost it – such as farmers establishing bloom-filled edges around their farmland.
Jessika Roswall, described the preservation condition of wild bees, butterflies and other pollinators as “critical”.
“Urgent and collective action is required to confront this threat. In collaboration with member countries, the EU Commission has implemented an EU-wide monitoring system for pollinating species based on the EU nature restoration law, which will assist in monitoring our development. Now, we need to focus on implementation and partnership with member countries to preserve our pollinators,” she said.
The release of the bee and butterfly assessments comes after the first European-wide assessment of hoverflies, a further essential pollinator group. Issued in 2022, it disclosed that over one-third of all hoverfly species in the European continent were facing extinction.
