The total of non-managed bee types in the European continent experiencing extinction has increased twofold in the last ten years, while the count of at-risk butterfly species has nearly doubled.
This pressing issue for essential pollinating insects was revealed by research studies for the IUCN red list, which found that at least 172 bee types out of 1,928 were at risk of extinction in the European continent.
The count of butterfly species facing extinction in the European continent has increased from over thirty-five to 65 since the previous assessment, conducted over a decade past. A single species, the Madeiran large white butterfly (Pieris wollastoni) has now been classified as extinct.
In addition to their aesthetic appeal and cultural significance, pollinating species like bees along with butterflies are essential supports for our physical condition, our food supplies and our economic systems – supporting the fruits, vegetables and seeds that nourish us,” stated the IUCN’s director general. “The newest European red list evaluations reveal serious challenges, with risks increasing for butterfly types and essential non-managed bee types.”
The causes of the swift recent drops are the ongoing damage or destruction of living environments caused by farming intensification and deserted farmland, draining of wetlands, livestock overgrazing, and the use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides including neonicotinoid pesticides. The fragmentation of environments suitable for pollinators greatly increases the danger of extinctions at local level.
Global heating is also revealed to be a major threat: Over half of all threatened butterfly species in European nations are threatened by the climate change crisis – roughly twice as many as a previous decade.
Up to ninety percent of plants that flower in the European continent rely on animal pollination, as per the wild bee assessment’s lead coordinator. “Unfortunately, wild bee colonies are in drastic decline and are not easily replaceable by managed colonies,” he said. “If native bees disappear, many non-cultivated plants might be threatened too – of which flower-rich meadows and attractive orchid varieties are just a couple of instances.”
Fifteen species of bumblebee species, which have an essential part in fertilizing peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and 14 species of cellophane bee types, known for fertilizing trees such as willows and red maples, are now categorized as at-risk. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee type unique to the continent and the only species of this genus in Europe, is now evaluated as critically at risk – the scientific classification nearest to disappearance in the wild.
Butterflies that are exclusively located on mountain tops are especially at risk to global heating as they must ascend higher as their habitats become hotter but in the end have no room left. In southern Spain, the Nevada grayling and the Andalusian anomalous blue are among more than 40% of types unique to Europe (only found in Europe) threatened with extinction.
In the Mediterranean area, species such as the severely threatened Karpathos grayling butterfly are threatened by severe drought and wildfires.
At the same time, in the Arctic Circle, climate change is causing the forest boundary to shift northward by many meters each year, with scrub encroaching on wetlands and tundra. Higher temperatures also mean Arctic deer can no longer cross the ice sheets to browse northern grasslands and keep them open. 8 butterfly varieties are facing extinction in this area, including Freyja’s fritillary and the Arctic ringlet butterfly.
“The biggest living space for all these pollinating species is bloom-filled grassy areas and that is vanishing rapidly across Europe because of all these reasons,” remarked one of the lead coordinators of the butterflies assessment. “The good news is that so many citizens are aware now and there’s a lot more awareness. Under the EU’s nature restoration regulation, all participating nations have to halt the decrease in pollinating species by 2030, and they are going to have to begin taking action. There are property owners who are engaged. Let’s hope they can obtain 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 will not lower crop yields – and could improve it – such as growers developing flower-rich margins around their farmland.
EU commissioner for environment, characterized the conservation status of non-managed bees, butterfly species and other pollinating insects as “dire”.
“Urgent and collective action is required to tackle this risk. Along with member countries, the Commission of the European Union has established an Europe-wide observation system for pollinating species based on the European Union nature restoration legislation, which will assist in monitoring our development. Now, we need to focus on implementation and collaboration with member countries to protect our pollinating insects,” she said.
The release of the assessments on bees and butterflies comes after the pioneering EU-wide evaluation of hoverflies, an additional vital group of pollinators. Published in 2022, it revealed that over one-third of all hoverfly types in European nations were facing extinction.
