The number of wild bee species in European nations experiencing extinction has increased twofold over the past decade, whereas the count of threatened butterfly species has almost doubled.
This dire scenario for essential pollinating insects was disclosed by scientific assessments for the red list of threatened species, which established that at least 172 bee species out of 1,928 were facing extinction in Europe.
The total of butterflies facing extinction in the European continent has increased from over thirty-five to 65 since the previous assessment, performed 14 years ago. A single species, the Madeiran large white butterfly (Pieris wollastoni) has now been confirmed extinct.
“Beyond their visual charm and cultural importance, pollinating species like bees and butterflies are lifelines for our physical condition, our food supplies and our financial structures – supporting the fruits, veggies and seeds that feed us,” said Grethel Aguilar. “The latest European red list evaluations reveal major obstacles, with threats growing for butterflies and vital non-managed bee types.”
The factors of the rapid recent declines are the continuing destruction or damage of habitats caused by agricultural intensification and deserted farmland, draining of wetlands, overgrazing by livestock, and the utilization of pesticides and fertilisers including neonicotinoid pesticides. The fragmentation of environments suitable for pollinators substantially boosts the risk of extinctions at local level.
Climate change is also shown to be a primary risk: Fifty-two percent of all threatened butterflies in Europe are imperilled by the climate change crisis – about double the number as a ten years ago.
Nearly 90% of flowering plants in the European continent rely on pollination by animals, as per Dr Denis Michez. “Unfortunately, wild bee populations are in severe drop and are not easily replaceable by managed colonies,” he said. “If native bees disappear, many wild plants might be in danger as well – of which bloom-filled grasslands and lovely orchid types are just a couple of instances.”
15 varieties of bumblebee types, which perform a vital function in pollinating legumes like peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and 14 species of cellophane bee species, known for aiding tree pollination such as willows along with red maples, are now listed as threatened. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee type exclusive to the European continent and the single type of this biological genus in European nations, is now assessed as severely threatened – the scientific category most akin to disappearance in the wild.
Butterflies that are only found on mountain peaks are especially at risk to global heating as they must ascend higher as their habitats become more heated but in the end run out of space. In Spain’s southern region, the Nevada grayling and the Andalusian anomalous blue are among over forty percent of types unique to Europe (only found in Europe) facing extinction.
In the Mediterranean, types such as the highly at-risk Karpathos grayling are threatened by intense drought and wildfires.
At the same time, in the Far North, global heating is causing the timberline to move north by many meters each year, with bushes invading bog and tundra. Higher temperatures also mean reindeer can no more cross the frozen water to browse Arctic meadows and prevent them from overgrowing. Eight butterfly species are threatened with extinction in this area, including Freyja’s fritillary butterfly and the Arctic ringlet.
“The largest environment for all these pollinating insects is flower-rich grassland and that is declining quickly in the European continent because of all these elements,” remarked Martin Warren. “The positive thing is that so many people care now and there’s a lot more understanding. Under the EU’s nature restoration regulation, all member states have to halt the drop in pollinators by 2030, and they are going to have to initiate measures. There are landowners who are interested. We hope they can obtain the encouragements that will assist them on their way.”
As stated by Martin Warren, there is “easy opportunities” in terms of action for pollinating species which won’t reduce food production – and might boost it – such as farmers developing bloom-filled edges around their cultivated areas.
EU commissioner for environment, described the protection status of wild bees, butterflies and other pollinators as “critical”.
“Prompt and unified steps is required to address this danger. Together with participating nations, the Commission of the European Union has put in place an EU-wide monitoring system for pollinating species based on the EU nature restoration regulation, which will aid in following our development. Now, we need to concentrate on implementation and collaboration with participating nations to protect our pollinators,” she said.
The publication of the assessments on bees and butterflies is subsequent to the initial European-wide evaluation of hoverflies, a further essential group of pollinators. Published in twenty-twenty-two, it disclosed that 37% of all hoverfly types in Europe were threatened with extinction.
