The number of non-managed bee species in Europe facing disappearance has increased twofold in the last ten years, and the number of threatened butterfly types has close to doubled.
This pressing issue for vital pollinating insects was revealed by research studies for the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) red list, which determined that at least one hundred seventy-two bee types out of 1,928 were facing extinction in the European continent.
The count of butterfly types facing extinction in Europe has increased from over thirty-five to sixty-five since the earlier research, performed over a decade past. One species, the Madeiran large white (Pieris wollastoni) has now been classified as extinct.
“Beyond their visual charm and cultural value, pollinating species like bees along with butterflies are crucial elements for our well-being, our food supplies and our economic systems – maintaining the produce, vegetables and seeds that sustain us,” stated the IUCN director general. “The most recent assessments of the European red list reveal major obstacles, with risks mounting for butterfly types and essential non-managed bee species.”
The causes of the rapid recent declines are the ongoing damage or destruction of living environments caused by farming intensification and land abandonment, draining of wetlands, overgrazing by livestock, and the use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides including neonicotinoid chemicals. The division of environments suitable for pollinators greatly increases the risk of extinctions at local level.
Global warming is also shown to be a major threat: Fifty-two percent of all threatened butterfly species in Europe are imperilled by the climate change crisis – roughly double the number as a previous decade.
Nearly 90% of blooming plants in Europe require animal pollination, as per Dr Denis Michez. “Regrettably, native bee populations are in drastic decline and are not easily replaceable by managed colonies,” he said. “If wild bees die out, many native plants might be in danger as well – of which bloom-filled grasslands and attractive orchid varieties are just a handful of illustrations.”
Fifteen types of bumblebee types, which have an essential part in aiding the pollination of peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and fourteen varieties of cellophane bee species, famous for fertilizing trees such as willow trees and red maples, are now categorized as at-risk. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee species exclusive to the European continent and the sole species of this biological genus in European nations, is now classified as severely threatened – the scientific category most akin to dying out in natural habitats.
Butterflies that are only found on mountain peaks are especially at risk to climate change as they must ascend higher as their habitats become more heated but ultimately exhaust available space. In Spain’s southern region, 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, types such as the severely threatened Karpathos grayling are threatened by extreme drought and wildfires.
At the same time, in the Far North, global warming is causing the forest boundary to shift northward by tens of metres each year, with scrub taking over bog and tundra. Higher temperatures also mean Arctic deer can no more cross the frozen water to browse northern grasslands and prevent them from overgrowing. Eight types of butterflies are at risk of extinction in this region, including the fritillary of Freyja and the ringlet of the Arctic.
“The largest living space for all these pollinating species is flower-rich grassland and that is declining quickly in the European continent because of all these elements,” said Martin Warren. “The encouraging aspect is that so many individuals care now and there’s a lot more consciousness. Under the EU nature restoration legislation, all member countries have to turn around the decline in pollinating insects by 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 help them on their way.”
According to Martin Warren, there is “easy opportunities” in terms of steps for pollinating insects which won’t reduce agricultural output – and may enhance it – such as farmers creating bloom-filled edges around their fields.
EU commissioner for environment, described the conservation status of wild bees, butterflies and other pollinators as “critical”.
“Immediate and joint measures is required to tackle this danger. In collaboration with participating nations, the Commission of the European Union has established an EU-wide observation system for pollinators based on the European Union nature restoration legislation, which will aid in following our progress. Now, we need to concentrate on application and collaboration with participating nations to protect our pollinating insects,” she said.
The publication of the bee and butterfly assessments is subsequent to the pioneering European-wide evaluation of hoverflies, a further vital pollinating insect category. Released in 2022, it showed that thirty-seven percent of all hoverfly varieties in European nations were at risk of extinction.