The count of native bee species in European nations facing extinction has over doubled over the past decade, and the number of at-risk butterfly has almost doubled.
This dire scenario for crucial pollinating species was unveiled by scientific studies for the IUCN red list, which found that at least over 170 bee species out of nearly two thousand were threatened with extinction in the European continent.
The number of butterflies threatened with extinction in European nations has grown from thirty-seven to 65 since the previous assessment, conducted 14 years ago. A single species, the large white of Madeira (Pieris wollastoni) has now been classified as extinct.
In addition to their beauty and cultural significance, pollinating insects like bees along with butterflies are crucial elements for our well-being, our food chains and our financial structures – supporting the produce, vegetables and seeds that feed us,” commented Grethel Aguilar. “The most recent European red list assessments reveal major obstacles, with threats mounting for butterfly species and essential native bee types.”
The factors of the quick recent decreases are the ongoing damage or destruction of living environments caused by farming intensification and abandoned land, draining wetlands, overgrazing by livestock, and the utilization of fertilisers and pesticides including neonicotinoid pesticides. The division of habitat friendly to pollinators substantially boosts the risk of local extinctions.
Global warming is also demonstrated to be a major threat: Over half of all endangered butterflies in European nations are endangered by the climate change crisis – about double the number as a previous decade.
Up to 90% of blooming plants in the European continent require insect pollination, as per the wild bee assessment’s lead coordinator. “Unfortunately, native bee groups are in severe drop and cannot be easily replaced by managed colonies,” he said. “If native bees disappear, many wild plants might be threatened too – of which flower-rich meadows and lovely orchid types are just a few examples.”
15 varieties of bumblebee species, which play a crucial role in fertilizing crops such as peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and 14 species of cellophane bee types, famous for pollinating trees such as willow trees and red maples, are now categorized as at-risk. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee type unique to the European continent and the sole species of this genus in Europe, is now evaluated as severely threatened – the research category closest to disappearance in the wild.
Butterflies that are exclusively located on mountain peaks are especially at risk to global heating as they need to move uphill as their living spaces become more heated but in the end run out of space. In the southern part of Spain, the Nevada grayling and the Andalusian anomalous blue butterfly are among above 40 percent of types unique to Europe (only found in Europe) threatened with extinction.
In the Mediterranean, species such as the severely threatened grayling of Karpathos are threatened by intense wildfires and drought.
Meanwhile, in the Arctic region, global heating is leading to the timberline to move north by many meters each year, with bushes invading wetlands and tundra. Warmer conditions also mean caribou can no more cross the frozen water to browse Arctic grasslands and maintain them clear. Eight butterfly species are threatened with extinction in this region, including the fritillary of Freyja and the ringlet of the Arctic.
“The largest living space for all these pollinators is bloom-filled grassy areas and that is disappearing very fast throughout Europe because of all these factors,” stated Martin Warren. “The positive thing is that so many citizens care now and there’s a lot more understanding. Under the EU’s nature restoration regulation, all participating nations have to reverse the decrease in pollinating insects by 2030, and they are going to have to begin taking action. There are land holders who are engaged. We hope they can receive the motivations that will support them on their way.”
As stated by Warren, there is “easy opportunities” in terms of measures for pollinating species which will not lower agricultural output – and might boost it – such as farmers creating margins rich in flowers around their cultivated areas.
Jessika Roswall, described the conservation status of native bees, butterflies and additional pollinators as “severe”.
“Immediate and joint measures is necessary to confront this risk. In collaboration with participating nations, the Commission of the European Union has implemented an Europe-wide monitoring system for pollinators based on the EU nature restoration regulation, which will assist in monitoring our advancement. Now, we need to prioritize application and partnership with participating nations to preserve our pollinators,” she said.
The publication of the assessments on bees and butterflies comes after the pioneering European-wide assessment of hoverflies, a further crucial group of pollinators. Published in twenty-twenty-two, it revealed that over one-third of all hoverfly varieties in European nations were facing extinction.
