The count of non-managed bee varieties in the European continent experiencing dying out has increased twofold during the previous ten-year period, while the number of at-risk butterfly species has nearly doubled.
This critical situation for crucial pollinating insects was unveiled by scientific studies for the red list of threatened species, which found that at least 172 bee species out of 1,928 were at risk of extinction in European nations.
The count of butterfly species facing extinction in Europe has risen from 37 to sixty-five since the previous assessment, carried out over a decade past. One type, the Madeiran large white (Pieris wollastoni) has now been declared extinct.
In addition to their visual charm and cultural value, pollinators like bees along with butterflies are crucial elements for our well-being, our food supplies and our financial structures – sustaining the fruits, veggies and seeds that nourish us,” stated Grethel Aguilar. “The latest European red list assessments reveal serious challenges, with risks growing for butterfly species and crucial wild bee species.”
The factors of the quick recent decreases are the ongoing harm or degradation of natural habitats caused by agricultural intensification and land abandonment, draining wetlands, livestock overgrazing, and the application of pesticides and fertilisers including neonicotinoids. The fragmentation of environments suitable for pollinators greatly increases the threat of extinctions at local level.
Global warming is also revealed to be a major threat: Over half of all threatened butterfly species in the European continent are endangered by the climate emergency – roughly double the number as a previous decade.
Nearly nine out of ten of plants that flower in the European continent require animal pollination, as stated by Dr Denis Michez. “Unfortunately, non-managed bee groups are in sharp decrease and cannot be easily replaced by managed bee colonies,” he said. “If wild bees vanish, many non-cultivated plants might be threatened too – of which bloom-filled grasslands and lovely orchid types are just a handful of illustrations.”
Fifteen types of bumblebee species, which play a crucial role in pollinating crops such as peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and 14 types 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 species exclusive to the European continent and the sole species of this biological genus in European nations, is now assessed as critically at risk – the scientific category closest to extinction in the wild.
Butterflies that are solely present on mountain peaks are particularly vulnerable to global warming as they need to move uphill as their living spaces become hotter but in the end run out of space. In the southern part of Spain, the grayling of Nevada and the Andalusian anomalous blue butterfly are among above 40 percent of types unique to Europe (only found in Europe) at risk of extinction.
In the Mediterranean area, types such as the severely threatened Karpathos grayling are imperilled by severe drought and wildfires.
Meanwhile, in the Far North, global warming is causing the tree line to move north by dozens of meters each year, with scrub invading wetlands and tundra. Higher temperatures also mean caribou can not anymore cross the ice to feed on northern grasslands and keep them open. Eight butterfly species are at risk of extinction in this region, including Freyja’s fritillary butterfly and the ringlet of the Arctic.
“The biggest living space for all these pollinating insects is grassland rich in flowers and that is declining quickly throughout the European continent because of all these elements,” remarked Martin Warren. “The positive thing is that so many people care now and there’s a lot more consciousness. Under the European Union nature restoration law, all participating nations have to reverse the decrease in pollinating insects by twenty-thirty, and they are going to have to initiate measures. There are land holders who are interested. It is hoped they can receive the encouragements that will help them on their way.”
As per the coordinator, there is “low-hanging fruit” in terms of action for pollinating insects which won’t reduce crop yields – and may enhance it – such as farmers establishing flower-rich margins around their farmland.
the EU’s environment commissioner, portrayed the protection status of native bees, butterflies and additional pollinators as “severe”.
“Urgent and collective action is necessary to address this risk. Along with member states, the European Commission has implemented an Europe-wide tracking system for pollinating species based on the EU nature restoration law, which will aid in following our progress. Now, we need to prioritize execution and collaboration with member countries to preserve our pollinating insects,” she said.
The issuance of the bee and butterfly assessments comes after the initial Europe-wide evaluation of hoverflies, an additional crucial pollinator group. Published in 2022, it showed that 37% of all hoverfly types in European nations were facing extinction.
