The count of wild bee varieties in the European continent confronting extinction has over doubled over the past decade, whereas the number of at-risk butterfly has nearly doubled.
This dire scenario for crucial pollinating species was disclosed by scientific studies for the red list of threatened species, which determined that at least 172 bee types out of 1,928 were threatened with extinction in European nations.
The total of butterflies at risk of extinction in Europe has risen from thirty-seven to sixty-five since the previous assessment, carried out over a decade past. One species, the Madeiran large white butterfly (Pieris wollastoni) has now been confirmed extinct.
In addition to their beauty and cultural significance, pollinators like bees along with butterflies are crucial elements for our physical condition, our food chains and our financial structures – supporting the produce, vegetables and seeds that sustain us,” said Grethel Aguilar. “The latest European red list assessments reveal significant difficulties, with dangers mounting for butterfly types and vital non-managed bee types.”
The reasons of the quick recent decreases are the continuing harm or degradation of living environments caused by agricultural intensification and deserted farmland, draining of wetlands, excessive grazing by animals, and the application of fertilisers and pesticides including neonicotinoid chemicals. The breaking up of environments suitable for pollinators substantially boosts the risk of extinctions at local level.
Global warming is also revealed to be a primary risk: Fifty-two percent of all endangered butterfly types in the European continent are endangered by the climate emergency – approximately double the number as a decade ago.
Up to 90% of flowering plants in the European continent require animal pollination, as per Dr Denis Michez. “Unfortunately, native bee groups are in drastic decline and are not easily replaceable by domesticated hives,” he said. “If wild bees disappear, many native plants might be at risk too – of which bloom-filled grasslands and lovely orchid types are just a few examples.”
15 varieties of bumblebees, which play a crucial role in pollinating peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and fourteen varieties of cellophane bees, recognized for fertilizing trees such as willows along with red maples, are now listed as threatened. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee type exclusive to the mainland and the only species of this biological genus in Europe, is now assessed as severely threatened – the scientific category closest to disappearance in the wild.
Butterfly species that are exclusively located on mountain peaks are particularly vulnerable to global warming as they must ascend higher as their habitats become warmer but ultimately have no room left. In Spain’s southern region, the Nevada grayling butterfly and the anomalous blue of Andalusia are among above 40 percent of species endemic to Europe (only found in Europe) facing extinction.
In the Mediterranean region, varieties such as the highly at-risk Karpathos grayling butterfly are threatened by intense dry conditions and fires.
In the meantime, in the Far North, global heating is resulting in the forest boundary to shift northward by tens of metres each year, with bushes encroaching on wetlands and tundra. Warmer conditions also mean reindeer can no longer cross the ice sheets to browse Arctic meadows and prevent them from overgrowing. Eight butterfly species are facing extinction in this zone, including the fritillary of Freyja and the Arctic ringlet.
“The biggest living space for all these pollinating insects is grassland rich in flowers and that is vanishing rapidly across the European continent because of all these factors,” remarked Martin Warren. “The good news is that so many citizens care now and there’s a lot more consciousness. Under the EU’s nature restoration regulation, all member countries have to halt the decrease in pollinating insects by 2030, and they are going to have to start doing something. There are property owners who are engaged. It is hoped they can get the encouragements that will assist them on their way.”
As per Warren, there is “easy opportunities” in terms of action for pollinating insects which will not lower crop yields – and might boost it – such as farmers establishing bloom-filled edges around their cultivated areas.
the EU’s environment commissioner, described the protection status of non-managed bees, butterfly species and other pollinating insects as “severe”.
“Urgent and collective action is required to address this threat. Along with member states, the EU Commission has established an European Union-wide tracking system for pollinating insects based on the European Union nature restoration legislation, which will assist in monitoring our advancement. Now, we need to prioritize implementation and partnership with member countries to protect our pollinating insects,” she said.
The release of the assessments on bees and butterflies is subsequent to the first Europe-wide evaluation of hoverflies, an additional crucial pollinator group. Published in 2022, it showed that over one-third of all hoverfly varieties in Europe were facing extinction.
