The number of wild 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 almost doubled.
This dire scenario for essential pollinating species was disclosed by scientific assessments for the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) red list, which determined that at least over 170 bee species out of 1,928 were facing extinction in the European continent.
The number of butterfly types threatened with extinction in the European continent has grown from 37 to sixty-five since the earlier research, carried out 14 years ago. One type, the Madeiran large white butterfly (Pieris wollastoni) has now been classified as extinct.
“Beyond their aesthetic appeal and cultural importance, pollinating insects like bees and butterflies are essential supports for our health, our food supplies and our financial structures – maintaining the fruits, vegetables and seeds that nourish us,” stated the IUCN director general. “The newest European red list assessments reveal serious challenges, with threats mounting for butterfly species and essential native bee species.”
The factors of the swift recent drops are the persistent harm or degradation of habitats caused by farming intensification and abandoned land, draining wetlands, overgrazing by livestock, and the utilization of pesticides and fertilisers including neonicotinoids. The breaking up of environments suitable for pollinators substantially boosts the risk of disappearances in specific areas.
Climate change is also revealed to be a primary risk: Over half of all threatened butterfly species in the European continent are imperilled by the climate crisis – roughly double the number as a ten years ago.
Up to ninety percent of plants that flower in European nations depend on animal pollination, as per Dr Denis Michez. “Sadly, native bee populations are in severe drop and cannot be easily replaced by managed bee colonies,” he said. “If native bees vanish, many non-cultivated plants might be at risk too – of which flower-rich meadows and beautiful orchid species are just a handful of illustrations.”
Fifteen species of bumblebee types, which have an essential part in fertilizing legumes like peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and 14 types of cellophane bee types, known for fertilizing trees such as willows and red maples, are now listed as threatened. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee type exclusive to the continent and the single type of this biological genus in the European continent, is now assessed as critically at risk – the scientific category closest to extinction in the wild.
Butterflies that are solely present on mountain tops are highly susceptible to global warming as they have to climb upward as their environments become warmer but ultimately run out of space. In Spain’s southern region, the Nevada grayling butterfly and the anomalous blue of Andalusia are among over forty percent of species endemic to Europe (exclusive to Europe) at risk of extinction.
In the Mediterranean area, types such as the critically endangered Karpathos grayling butterfly are endangered by intense wildfires and drought.
In the meantime, in the Far North, global heating is leading to the timberline to move north by many meters each year, with bushes encroaching on wetlands and tundra. Hotter climates also mean Arctic deer can not anymore cross the ice sheets to graze Arctic meadows and keep them open. 8 butterfly varieties are at risk of extinction in this region, including Freyja’s fritillary butterfly and the Arctic ringlet.
“The biggest habitat for all these pollinating insects is bloom-filled grassy areas and that is disappearing very fast across Europe because of all these reasons,” remarked one of the lead coordinators of the butterflies assessment. “The positive thing is that so many people are aware now and there’s a lot more consciousness. Under the EU’s nature restoration regulation, all member states have to reverse the drop in pollinating insects by the year 2030, and they are going to have to initiate measures. There are landowners who are engaged. It is hoped they can get the motivations that will support them on their way.”
As stated by Warren, there is “easy opportunities” in terms of steps for pollinating insects which will not decrease crop yields – and might boost it – such as growers creating margins rich in flowers around their cultivated areas.
the EU’s environment commissioner, described the preservation condition of non-managed bees, butterfly species and other pollinating insects as “dire”.
“Urgent and collective action is needed to confront this threat. Along with member countries, the EU Commission has put in place an EU-wide monitoring system for pollinating species based on the EU nature restoration regulation, which will help to track our progress. Now, we need to focus on implementation and partnership with member countries to preserve our pollinators,” she said.
The issuance of the bee and butterfly assessments is subsequent to the initial EU-wide evaluation of hoverflies, another vital pollinating insect category. Released in 2022, it showed that over one-third of all hoverfly types in Europe were facing extinction.
