The number of wild bee varieties in Europe experiencing disappearance has over doubled over the past decade, and the count of endangered butterfly species has nearly doubled.
This pressing issue for crucial pollinating species was disclosed by research studies for the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) red list, which established that at least one hundred seventy-two bee varieties out of nearly two thousand were facing extinction in European nations.
The total of butterfly species facing extinction in European nations has increased from 37 to over sixty since the earlier research, carried out a decade and a half ago. A single species, the Madeiran large white butterfly (Pieris wollastoni) has now been declared extinct.
“Beyond their aesthetic appeal and cultural importance, pollinating insects like bees and butterflies are crucial elements for our health, our food systems and our economies – sustaining the fruits, veggies and seeds that nourish us,” said Grethel Aguilar. “The latest European red list evaluations reveal serious challenges, with risks growing for butterfly species and crucial native bee types.”
The factors of the rapid recent declines are the continuing destruction or damage of natural habitats caused by agricultural intensification and deserted farmland, draining wetlands, livestock overgrazing, and the utilization of pesticides and fertilisers including neonicotinoids. The breaking up of pollinator-friendly habitat greatly increases the danger of extinctions at local level.
Global warming is also shown to be a major threat: 52% of all at-risk butterflies in European nations are imperilled by the climate emergency – roughly twofold the amount as a ten years ago.
Nearly ninety percent of blooming plants in European nations rely on insect pollination, as per the lead coordinator of the wild bee assessment. “Unfortunately, non-managed bee populations are in sharp decrease and cannot readily be substituted by managed bee colonies,” he said. “If non-managed bees disappear, many native plants might be threatened too – of which bloom-filled grasslands and beautiful orchid species are just a couple of instances.”
Fifteen species of bumblebee types, which perform a vital function in aiding the pollination of crops such as peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and 14 species of cellophane bee types, famous for pollinating trees such as willows 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 in the European continent, is now assessed as critically at risk – the research category nearest to extinction in the wild.
Butterfly species that are only found on mountain peaks are especially at risk to global heating as they must ascend higher as their living spaces become warmer but eventually run out of space. In southern Spain, the grayling of Nevada and the Andalusian anomalous blue butterfly are among more than 40% of types unique to Europe (only found in Europe) at risk of extinction.
In the Mediterranean region, varieties such as the severely threatened grayling of Karpathos are threatened by severe drought and wildfires.
In the meantime, in the Arctic region, climate change is resulting in the timberline to move north by many meters each year, with underbrush invading bog and tundra. Higher temperatures also mean reindeer can not anymore cross the frozen water to feed on Arctic grasslands and keep them open. 8 butterfly varieties are facing extinction in this area, including Freyja’s fritillary butterfly and the ringlet of the Arctic.
“The greatest habitat for all these pollinating species is bloom-filled grassy areas and that is disappearing very fast throughout European nations because of all these reasons,” stated a lead coordinator for the butterfly assessment. “The good news is that so many citizens are aware now and there’s a lot more awareness. Under the European Union nature restoration law, all member countries have to turn around the decrease in pollinating insects by the year 2030, and they are going to have to initiate measures. There are landowners who are involved. It is hoped they can get the incentives that will assist them on their way.”
As per Warren, there is “easy opportunities” in terms of measures for pollinators which won’t reduce crop yields – and may enhance it – such as growers establishing margins rich in flowers around their fields.
EU commissioner for environment, described the conservation status of wild bees, butterflies and other pollinators as “severe”.
“Prompt and unified steps is required to confront this threat. Along with participating nations, the Commission of the European Union has established an European Union-wide tracking system for pollinating insects based on the European Union nature restoration legislation, which will help to track our progress. Now, we need to focus on implementation and partnership with participating nations to preserve our pollinating insects,” she said.
The release of the evaluations of bees along with butterflies follows the first European-wide evaluation of hoverflies, an additional vital pollinating insect category. Released in 2022, it showed that 37% of all hoverfly varieties in European nations were at risk of extinction.
