The count of native bee species in Europe facing disappearance has over doubled during the previous ten-year period, and the count of endangered butterfly types has nearly doubled.
This critical situation for essential pollinating species was revealed by scientific assessments for the red list of threatened species, which found that at least 172 bee species out of over 1900 were facing extinction in European nations.
The count of butterfly species facing extinction in Europe has risen from 37 to sixty-five since the last study, performed over a decade past. One species, the Madeiran large white butterfly (Pieris wollastoni) has now been declared extinct.
In addition to their visual charm and cultural significance, pollinating insects like bees and butterflies are crucial elements for our well-being, our food systems and our financial structures – sustaining the fruits, vegetables and seeds that feed us,” commented the IUCN director general. “The newest assessments of the European red list reveal serious challenges, with threats growing for butterfly species and crucial non-managed bee species.”
The causes of the swift recent drops are the persistent damage or destruction of living environments caused by agricultural intensification and deserted farmland, draining of wetlands, overgrazing by livestock, and the application of chemical fertilisers and pesticides including neonicotinoid pesticides. The division of pollinator-friendly habitat greatly increases the threat of disappearances in specific areas.
Global heating is also shown to be a primary risk: Over half of all threatened butterfly types in European nations are threatened by the climate change crisis – roughly twice as many as a previous decade.
As many as 90% of blooming plants in European nations depend on animal pollination, as stated by the lead coordinator of the wild bee assessment. “Regrettably, native bee groups are in drastic decline and cannot be easily replaced by domesticated hives,” he said. “If non-managed bees vanish, many wild plants might be in danger as well – of which flower-rich meadows and beautiful orchid species are just a few examples.”
15 varieties of bumblebee types, which play a crucial role in pollinating crops such as peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and 14 species of cellophane bee types, known for fertilizing trees such as willows along with red maples, are now listed as threatened. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee species exclusive to the European continent and the single type of this biological genus in European nations, is now classified as severely threatened – the scientific category most akin to dying out in natural habitats.
Butterfly species that are solely present on high-altitude areas are especially at risk to global warming as they must ascend higher as their living spaces become warmer but ultimately exhaust available space. In the southern part of Spain, the grayling of Nevada and the Andalusian anomalous blue butterfly are among over forty percent of species endemic to Europe (solely present in Europe) facing extinction.
In the Mediterranean, types such as the critically endangered grayling of Karpathos are threatened by intense drought and wildfires.
In the meantime, in the Arctic region, climate change is leading to the timberline to advance northwards by dozens of meters each year, with bushes invading bog and tundra. Hotter climates also mean Arctic deer can no longer cross the ice to graze northern grasslands and prevent them from overgrowing. Eight types of butterflies are facing extinction in this area, including Freyja’s fritillary and the ringlet of the Arctic.
“The greatest habitat for all these pollinators is grassland rich in flowers and that is vanishing rapidly in the European continent because of all these elements,” said a lead coordinator for the butterfly assessment. “The positive thing 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 reverse the decline in pollinating species by 2030, and they are going to have to start doing something. There are landowners who are involved. Let’s hope they can obtain the encouragements that will help them on their way.”
As per the coordinator, there is “easy opportunities” in terms of action for pollinators which will not lower food production – and may enhance it – such as farmers developing margins rich in flowers around their cultivated areas.
the EU’s environment commissioner, described the preservation condition of wild bees, butterflies and other pollinators as “dire”.
“Urgent and collective action is necessary to confront this danger. Together with member countries, the European Commission has put in place an EU-wide observation system for pollinating insects based on the European Union nature restoration legislation, which will help to track our progress. Now, we need to prioritize application and partnership with member states to preserve our pollinating insects,” she said.
The issuance of the evaluations of bees along with butterflies follows the first European-wide study on hoverflies, an additional essential pollinating insect category. Released in twenty-twenty-two, it revealed that 37% of all hoverfly species in European nations were facing extinction.
