The number of wild bee types in European nations confronting extinction has over doubled in the last ten years, whereas the total of at-risk butterfly types has nearly doubled.
This pressing issue for crucial pollinators was unveiled by scientific assessments for the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) red list, which established that at least 172 bee types out of 1,928 were threatened with extinction in European nations.
The total of butterfly types threatened with extinction in Europe has grown from 37 to sixty-five since the earlier research, conducted 14 years ago. A single species, the Madeiran large white (Pieris wollastoni) has now been declared extinct.
In addition to their aesthetic appeal and cultural significance, pollinating insects like bees and butterfly species are essential supports for our health, our food systems and our economies – supporting the fruits, veggies and seeds that nourish us,” stated the IUCN director general. “The most recent European red list assessments reveal significant difficulties, with dangers growing for butterflies and essential native bee varieties.”
The causes of the swift recent drops are the continuing harm or degradation of natural habitats caused by farming intensification and deserted farmland, wetland drainage, excessive grazing by animals, and the application of pesticides and fertilisers including neonicotinoid pesticides. The division of environments suitable for pollinators significantly raises the threat of extinctions at local level.
Global heating is also demonstrated to be a major threat: Fifty-two percent of all endangered butterfly types in European nations are imperilled by the climate crisis – roughly double the number as a previous decade.
Nearly 90% of flowering plants in the European continent rely on animal pollination, according to the wild bee assessment’s lead coordinator. “Sadly, native bee colonies are in drastic decline and cannot readily be substituted by domesticated hives,” he said. “If wild bees die out, many native plants might be at risk too – of which meadows rich in flowers and beautiful orchid species are just a few examples.”
15 varieties of bumblebees, which perform a vital function in pollinating peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and 14 types of cellophane bees, known for fertilizing trees such as willow trees and red maples, are now listed as threatened. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee unique to the mainland and the only species of this genus group in the European continent, is now evaluated as critically endangered – the scientific classification nearest to disappearance in the wild.
Butterflies that are exclusively located on mountain tops are particularly vulnerable to global heating as they have to climb upward as their habitats become warmer but ultimately have no room left. In Spain’s southern region, the grayling of Nevada and the Andalusian anomalous blue are among more than 40% of European endemics (only found in Europe) facing extinction.
In the Mediterranean region, species such as the highly at-risk Karpathos grayling are threatened by intense wildfires and drought.
At the same time, in the Arctic region, global heating is resulting in the tree line to move north by dozens of meters each year, with underbrush taking over marsh and tundra. Higher temperatures also mean reindeer can no longer cross the ice sheets to feed on northern grasslands and prevent them from overgrowing. 8 butterfly varieties are at risk of extinction in this zone, including the fritillary of Freyja and the Arctic ringlet butterfly.
“The biggest environment for all these pollinators is bloom-filled grassy areas and that is vanishing rapidly across European nations because of all these reasons,” stated a lead coordinator for the butterfly assessment. “The good news is that so many citizens are aware now and there’s a lot more consciousness. Under the European Union nature restoration law, all member countries have to turn around the decrease in pollinators by twenty-thirty, and they are going to have to initiate measures. There are landowners who are engaged. It is hoped they can receive the encouragements that will help them on their way.”
According to Martin Warren, there is “readily achievable actions” in terms of measures for pollinating insects which will not lower crop yields – and could improve it – such as agricultural producers establishing flower-rich margins around their farmland.
EU commissioner for environment, portrayed the preservation condition of non-managed bees, butterfly species and other pollinating insects as “severe”.
“Immediate and joint measures is required to tackle this threat. Together with member countries, the European Commission has put in place an Europe-wide tracking system for pollinating insects based on the European Union nature restoration legislation, which will help to track our development. Now, we need to focus on execution and partnership with member countries to safeguard our pollinators,” she said.
The publication of the evaluations of bees along with butterflies comes after the pioneering EU-wide assessment of hoverflies, an additional crucial pollinator group. Released in 2022, it disclosed that over one-third of all hoverfly varieties in Europe were at risk of extinction.
