The number of wild bee species in Europe experiencing extinction has over doubled over the past decade, while the number of endangered butterfly species has almost doubled.
This dire scenario for essential pollinating species was disclosed by scientific assessments for the IUCN red list, which determined that at least 172 bee species out of 1,928 were at risk of extinction in European nations.
The number of butterfly species facing extinction in European nations has grown from 37 to sixty-five since the previous assessment, carried out 14 years ago. One species, the Madeiran large white butterfly (Pieris wollastoni) has now been declared extinct.
“Beyond their beauty and cultural significance, pollinating species like bees along with butterflies are lifelines for our physical condition, our food supplies and our economies – supporting the fruits, vegetables and seeds that sustain us,” stated the IUCN director general. “The newest European red list evaluations reveal significant difficulties, with dangers increasing for butterfly types and vital non-managed bee types.”
The reasons of the swift recent drops are the ongoing harm or degradation of habitats caused by farming intensification and land abandonment, draining of wetlands, overgrazing by livestock, and the use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides including neonicotinoids. The fragmentation of pollinator-friendly habitat substantially boosts the risk of disappearances in specific areas.
Global warming is also demonstrated to be a primary risk: 52% of all endangered butterfly types in European nations are threatened by the climate change crisis – about double the number as a ten years ago.
Up to 90% of flowering plants in the European continent require animal pollination, as stated by Dr Denis Michez. “Regrettably, non-managed bee groups are in sharp decrease and are not easily replaceable by domesticated hives,” he said. “If non-managed bees disappear, many non-cultivated plants might be in danger as well – of which flower-rich meadows and beautiful orchid species are just a handful of illustrations.”
Fifteen species of bumblebees, which have an essential part in aiding the pollination of legumes like peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and 14 species of cellophane bee types, recognized for aiding tree pollination such as willows along with red maples, are now categorized as at-risk. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee species exclusive to the continent and the sole species of this genus group in European nations, is now assessed as critically endangered – the scientific classification most akin to dying out in natural habitats.
Butterfly species that are only found on mountain peaks are especially at risk to global warming as they need to move uphill as their living spaces become warmer but ultimately have no room left. In Spain’s southern region, the Nevada grayling and the anomalous blue of Andalusia are among over forty percent of European endemics (solely present in Europe) facing extinction.
In the Mediterranean area, varieties such as the severely threatened grayling of Karpathos are imperilled by intense wildfires and drought.
In the meantime, in the Far North, global warming is causing the forest boundary to move north by tens of metres each year, with underbrush taking over bog and tundra. Hotter climates also mean caribou can no longer cross the ice to browse Arctic meadows and keep them open. Eight types of butterflies are at risk of extinction in this region, including Freyja’s fritillary butterfly and the ringlet of the Arctic.
“The largest habitat for all these pollinators is grassland rich in flowers and that is vanishing rapidly in the European continent because of all these factors,” remarked Martin Warren. “The encouraging aspect is that so many people are aware now and there’s a lot more understanding. Under the European Union nature restoration law, all member states have to reverse the decrease in pollinating species by 2030, and they are going to have to initiate measures. There are property owners who are interested. Let’s hope they can get the encouragements that will assist them on their way.”
According to Martin Warren, there is “readily achievable actions” in terms of measures for pollinating species which will not decrease agricultural output – and could improve it – such as agricultural producers creating bloom-filled edges around their fields.
Jessika Roswall, characterized the protection status of non-managed bees, butterfly species and other pollinating insects as “dire”.
“Urgent and collective action is needed to tackle this threat. In collaboration with member states, the European Commission has put in place an Europe-wide observation system for pollinators based on the EU nature restoration regulation, which will assist in monitoring our advancement. Now, we need to concentrate on application and collaboration with member countries to preserve our pollinating species,” she said.
The issuance of the assessments on bees and butterflies is subsequent to the pioneering European-wide study on hoverflies, another vital pollinator group. Issued in 2022, it revealed that over one-third of all hoverfly species in the European continent were threatened with extinction.
