The number of non-managed bee types in Europe confronting disappearance has over doubled over the past decade, while the number of endangered butterfly has close to doubled.
This critical situation for essential pollinating species was unveiled by scientific studies for the red list of threatened species, which determined that at least one hundred seventy-two bee varieties out of nearly two thousand were at risk of extinction in the European continent.
The total of butterfly species at risk of extinction in Europe has risen from thirty-seven to sixty-five since the previous assessment, conducted over a decade past. One type, the Madeiran large white butterfly (Pieris wollastoni) has now been declared extinct.
In addition to their beauty and cultural importance, pollinators like bees and butterfly species are lifelines for our health, our food supplies and our economic systems – supporting the fruits, veggies and seeds that nourish us,” stated the IUCN’s director general. “The latest European red list evaluations reveal major obstacles, with dangers mounting for butterfly species and essential non-managed bee types.”
The reasons of the quick recent decreases are the continuing harm or degradation of natural habitats caused by agricultural intensification and land abandonment, draining of wetlands, overgrazing by livestock, and the use of pesticides and fertilisers including neonicotinoid pesticides. The division of pollinator-friendly habitat significantly raises the threat of local extinctions.
Global warming is also revealed to be a major threat: 52% of all endangered butterflies in the European continent are endangered by the climate crisis – roughly double the number as a ten years ago.
Up to nine out of ten of flowering plants in the European continent rely on pollination by animals, as stated by Dr Denis Michez. “Sadly, wild bee colonies are in severe drop and are not easily replaceable by managed colonies,” he said. “If wild bees vanish, many non-cultivated plants might be in danger as well – of which meadows rich in flowers and lovely orchid types are just a few examples.”
Fifteen types of bumblebee species, which play a crucial role in pollinating legumes like peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and 14 species of cellophane bees, famous for fertilizing trees such as willow trees and red maples, are now categorized as at-risk. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee unique to the mainland and the sole species of this genus in the European continent, is now evaluated as critically endangered – the research category nearest to dying out in natural habitats.
Butterfly types that are exclusively located on mountain tops are particularly vulnerable to global heating as they need to move uphill as their living spaces become more heated but eventually exhaust available space. In Spain’s southern region, the grayling of Nevada and the Andalusian anomalous blue butterfly are among over forty percent of types unique to Europe (only found in Europe) facing extinction.
In the Mediterranean area, varieties such as the severely threatened grayling of Karpathos are threatened by extreme drought and wildfires.
At the same time, in the Arctic region, global warming is leading to the forest boundary to advance northwards by tens of metres each year, with scrub invading marsh and tundra. Hotter climates also mean caribou can no more cross the ice to graze northern grasslands and prevent them from overgrowing. Eight types of butterflies are threatened with extinction in this region, including the fritillary of Freyja and the Arctic ringlet butterfly.
“The greatest habitat for all these pollinating species is bloom-filled grassy areas and that is declining quickly across the European continent because of all these factors,” said Martin Warren. “The encouraging aspect is that so many citizens are aware now and there’s a lot more consciousness. Under the EU nature restoration legislation, all participating nations have to halt the drop in pollinating insects by 2030, and they are going to have to start doing something. There are property owners who are engaged. It is hoped they can receive the motivations that will help them on their way.”
As stated by the coordinator, there is “easy opportunities” in terms of measures for pollinating insects which will not decrease food production – and may enhance it – such as farmers establishing flower-rich margins around their cultivated areas.
the EU’s environment commissioner, characterized the protection status of native bees, butterflies and additional pollinators as “severe”.
“Prompt and unified steps is needed to confront this risk. In collaboration with participating nations, the European Commission has established an European Union-wide observation system for pollinators based on the European Union nature restoration legislation, which will help to track our advancement. Now, we need to prioritize implementation and cooperation with member countries to safeguard our pollinating species,” she said.
The release of the evaluations of bees along with butterflies comes after the pioneering European-wide assessment of hoverflies, a further crucial pollinating insect category. Released in twenty-twenty-two, it showed that 37% of all hoverfly types in Europe were at risk of extinction.
