The number of native bee varieties in the European continent experiencing disappearance has increased twofold over the past decade, while the count of threatened butterfly types has almost doubled.
This critical situation for crucial pollinating species was disclosed by research studies for the red list of threatened species, which found that at least 172 bee types out of 1,928 were at risk of extinction in Europe.
The count of butterfly species threatened with extinction in the European continent has increased from thirty-seven to 65 since the earlier research, performed 14 years ago. A single species, the large white of Madeira (Pieris wollastoni) has now been declared extinct.
Apart from their beauty and cultural significance, pollinating insects like bees along with butterflies are crucial elements for our physical condition, our food systems and our economic systems – sustaining the fruits, vegetables and seeds that sustain us,” commented Grethel Aguilar. “The latest European red list evaluations reveal significant difficulties, with threats mounting for butterfly species and crucial wild bee species.”
The reasons of the quick recent decreases are the continuing harm or degradation of living environments caused by farming intensification and abandoned land, draining of wetlands, overgrazing by livestock, and the utilization of pesticides and fertilisers including neonicotinoid pesticides. The division of pollinator-friendly habitat greatly increases the risk of disappearances in specific areas.
Climate change is also demonstrated to be a significant danger: Over half of all at-risk butterfly species in Europe are endangered by the climate crisis – roughly twice as many as a ten years ago.
Up to nine out of ten of plants that flower in Europe depend on insect pollination, according to the wild bee assessment’s lead coordinator. “Regrettably, wild bee groups are in sharp decrease and are not easily replaceable by managed colonies,” he said. “If native bees vanish, many non-cultivated plants might be at risk too – of which bloom-filled grasslands and lovely orchid types are just a few examples.”
15 varieties of bumblebee types, which perform a vital function in aiding the pollination of peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and fourteen varieties of cellophane bee species, known for fertilizing trees such as willows along with red maples, are now classified as threatened. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee exclusive to the mainland and the only species of this biological genus in European nations, is now evaluated as critically endangered – the scientific classification most akin to dying out in natural habitats.
Butterfly types that are solely present on mountain tops are particularly vulnerable to global warming as they must ascend higher as their habitats become more heated but ultimately exhaust available space. In the southern part of Spain, the grayling of Nevada and the anomalous blue of Andalusia are among above 40 percent of types unique to Europe (exclusive to Europe) at risk of extinction.
In the Mediterranean region, species such as the highly at-risk Karpathos grayling butterfly are endangered by extreme drought and wildfires.
At the same time, in the Arctic region, global warming is leading to the tree line to shift northward by tens of metres each year, with scrub invading bog and tundra. Hotter climates also mean reindeer can not anymore cross the ice sheets to browse northern grasslands and prevent them from overgrowing. 8 butterfly varieties are facing extinction in this zone, including Freyja’s fritillary butterfly and the Arctic ringlet butterfly.
“The greatest environment for all these pollinating species is bloom-filled grassy areas and that is vanishing rapidly across Europe because of all these factors,” remarked a lead coordinator for the butterfly assessment. “The positive thing is that so many people are aware now and there’s a lot more understanding. Under the EU’s nature restoration regulation, all participating nations have to halt the decrease in pollinating insects by the year 2030, and they are going to have to start doing something. There are property owners who are interested. We hope they can receive the encouragements that will support them on their way.”
As per the coordinator, there is “easy opportunities” in terms of measures for pollinating insects which won’t reduce agricultural output – and could improve it – such as agricultural producers establishing flower-rich margins around their fields.
the EU’s environment commissioner, portrayed the conservation status of non-managed bees, butterfly species and other pollinating insects as “critical”.
“Prompt and unified steps is needed to confront this threat. Along with participating nations, the EU Commission has put in place an European Union-wide observation system for pollinators based on the EU nature restoration law, which will aid in following our development. Now, we need to focus on implementation and cooperation with member countries to safeguard our pollinating species,” she said.
The release of the assessments on bees and butterflies comes after the pioneering Europe-wide evaluation of hoverflies, a further essential pollinator group. Released in 2022, it revealed that 37% of all hoverfly varieties in European nations were facing extinction.
