The count of native bee species in European nations experiencing dying out has more than doubled over the past decade, while the count of at-risk butterfly has almost doubled.
This critical situation for essential pollinating species was disclosed by scientific studies for the red list of threatened species, which found that at least 172 bee species out of nearly two thousand were threatened with extinction in Europe.
The total of butterfly types facing extinction in European nations has grown from 37 to sixty-five since the previous assessment, carried out over a decade past. One species, the large white of Madeira (Pieris wollastoni) has now been classified as extinct.
Apart from their visual charm and cultural significance, pollinators like bees and butterflies are crucial elements for our physical condition, our food chains and our financial structures – sustaining the produce, vegetables and seeds that nourish us,” said Grethel Aguilar. “The most recent European red list assessments reveal significant difficulties, with risks growing for butterflies and vital non-managed bee species.”
The causes of the rapid recent declines are the persistent destruction or damage of living environments caused by intensive agriculture and land abandonment, draining wetlands, livestock overgrazing, and the use of pesticides and fertilisers including neonicotinoid chemicals. The division of pollinator-friendly habitat substantially boosts the threat of disappearances in specific areas.
Global heating is also revealed to be a primary risk: 52% of all endangered butterfly species in Europe are imperilled by the climate emergency – approximately double the number as a decade ago.
As many as nine out of ten of flowering plants in Europe rely on insect pollination, as per the lead coordinator of the wild bee assessment. “Unfortunately, native bee groups are in drastic decline and are not easily replaceable by domesticated hives,” he said. “If native bees vanish, many non-cultivated plants might be in danger as well – of which flower-rich meadows and attractive orchid varieties are just a handful of illustrations.”
Fifteen species of bumblebees, which have an essential part in fertilizing legumes like peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and fourteen varieties of cellophane bee types, known for pollinating trees such as willow trees and red maples, are now classified as threatened. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee species exclusive to the mainland and the sole species of this genus in European nations, is now assessed as severely threatened – the scientific category closest to extinction in the wild.
Butterfly types that are exclusively located on high-altitude areas are particularly vulnerable to global warming as they need to move uphill as their habitats become warmer but in the end run out of space. In Spain’s southern region, the Nevada grayling butterfly and the Andalusian anomalous blue butterfly are among more than 40% of types unique to Europe (only found in Europe) at risk of extinction.
In the Mediterranean, varieties such as the critically endangered Karpathos grayling butterfly are imperilled by extreme drought and wildfires.
At the same time, in the Arctic region, climate change is leading to the tree line to shift northward by many meters each year, with scrub taking over bog and tundra. Higher temperatures also mean caribou can no longer cross the ice sheets to graze Arctic grasslands and prevent them from overgrowing. Eight butterfly species are threatened with extinction in this zone, including the fritillary of Freyja and the ringlet of the Arctic.
“The largest habitat for all these pollinators is grassland rich in flowers and that is disappearing very fast throughout Europe because of all these factors,” remarked Martin Warren. “The encouraging aspect is that so many people care now and there’s a lot more consciousness. Under the European Union nature restoration law, all member countries have to halt the decrease in pollinating insects by the year 2030, and they are going to have to begin taking action. There are land holders who are involved. We hope they can receive the incentives that will help them on their way.”
As stated by the coordinator, there is “readily achievable actions” in terms of action for pollinators which will not lower crop yields – and might boost it – such as farmers developing margins rich in flowers around their cultivated areas.
Jessika Roswall, portrayed the protection status of non-managed bees, butterfly species and other pollinating insects as “severe”.
“Urgent and collective action is required to confront this threat. Together with participating nations, the European Commission has implemented an EU-wide tracking system for pollinating insects based on the EU nature restoration law, which will aid in following our progress. Now, we need to concentrate on implementation and partnership with participating nations to protect our pollinating species,” she said.
The issuance of the evaluations of bees along with butterflies follows the first EU-wide study on hoverflies, a further essential pollinating insect category. Issued in 2022, it disclosed that 37% of all hoverfly varieties in European nations were facing extinction.
