The total of non-managed bee varieties in European nations experiencing extinction has over doubled in the last ten years, while the total of endangered butterfly species has nearly doubled.
This critical situation for crucial pollinating species was disclosed by research studies for the IUCN red list, which determined that at least over 170 bee types out of nearly two thousand were at risk of extinction in European nations.
The total of butterfly types threatened with extinction in the European continent has increased from 37 to sixty-five since the earlier research, performed 14 years ago. One type, the Madeiran large white butterfly (Pieris wollastoni) has now been classified as extinct.
Apart from their beauty and cultural significance, pollinating species like bees and butterflies are essential supports for our physical condition, our food systems and our economic systems – maintaining the fruits, veggies and seeds that sustain us,” commented Grethel Aguilar. “The latest European red list assessments reveal significant difficulties, with dangers mounting for butterflies and crucial native bee types.”
The reasons of the rapid recent declines are the persistent damage or destruction of habitats caused by agricultural intensification and abandoned land, draining of wetlands, overgrazing by livestock, and the application of chemical fertilisers and pesticides including neonicotinoid pesticides. The fragmentation of pollinator-friendly habitat greatly increases the threat of local extinctions.
Climate change is also demonstrated to be a significant danger: Over half of all threatened butterflies in Europe are imperilled by the climate change crisis – approximately double the number as a previous decade.
Nearly nine out of ten of blooming plants in the European continent depend on animal pollination, according to the lead coordinator of the wild bee assessment. “Regrettably, wild bee colonies are in drastic decline and cannot readily be substituted by domesticated hives,” he said. “If non-managed bees disappear, 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 bumblebees, which play a crucial role in pollinating peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and fourteen varieties of cellophane bee species, known for aiding tree pollination such as willows along with red maples, are now classified as threatened. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee type exclusive to the mainland and the only species of this genus group in the European continent, is now evaluated as critically endangered – the research category nearest to extinction in the wild.
Butterfly species that are only found on high-altitude areas are particularly vulnerable to global heating as they need to move uphill as their habitats become hotter but eventually run out of space. In southern Spain, the Nevada grayling and the anomalous blue of Andalusia are among more than 40% of European endemics (exclusive to Europe) facing extinction.
In the Mediterranean area, varieties such as the highly at-risk Karpathos grayling butterfly are imperilled by severe wildfires and drought.
In the meantime, in the Far North, global warming is resulting in the forest boundary to move north by many meters each year, with underbrush invading marsh and tundra. Warmer conditions also mean Arctic deer can not anymore cross the ice sheets to graze Arctic grasslands and maintain them clear. 8 butterfly varieties are facing extinction in this zone, including the fritillary of Freyja and the ringlet of the Arctic.
“The largest environment for all these pollinating species is flower-rich grassland and that is vanishing rapidly throughout the European continent because of all these reasons,” stated a lead coordinator for the butterfly assessment. “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 reverse the decrease in pollinators by the year 2030, and they are going to have to start doing something. There are property owners who are engaged. Let’s hope they can get the motivations that will assist them on their way.”
As stated by the coordinator, there is “easy opportunities” in terms of steps for pollinating species which will not lower food production – and might boost it – such as farmers developing flower-rich margins around their farmland.
EU commissioner for environment, characterized the protection status of non-managed bees, butterfly species and other pollinating insects as “critical”.
“Immediate and joint measures is required to confront this risk. Together with member countries, the European Commission has established an European Union-wide monitoring system for pollinating species based on the European Union nature restoration legislation, which will help to track our advancement. Now, we need to concentrate on execution and partnership with member countries to protect our pollinating species,” she said.
The release of the assessments on bees and butterflies comes after the initial EU-wide assessment of hoverflies, another vital pollinating insect category. Published in twenty-twenty-two, it disclosed that thirty-seven percent of all hoverfly types in European nations were threatened with extinction.
