The total of wild bee types in the European continent confronting dying out has increased twofold in the last ten years, while the total of threatened butterfly types has almost doubled.
This pressing issue for crucial pollinating species was unveiled by research studies for the red list of threatened species, which found that at least 172 bee species out of over 1900 were facing extinction in Europe.
The number of butterflies facing extinction in European nations has increased from thirty-seven to over sixty since the previous assessment, carried out a decade and a half ago. One species, the Madeiran large white (Pieris wollastoni) has now been classified as extinct.
“Beyond their aesthetic appeal and cultural importance, pollinators like bees and butterfly species are crucial elements for our health, our food supplies and our economic systems – supporting the fruits, vegetables and seeds that feed us,” stated Grethel Aguilar. “The latest assessments of the European red list reveal serious challenges, with threats mounting for butterfly types and crucial non-managed bee types.”
The causes of the rapid recent declines are the continuing destruction or damage of natural habitats caused by agricultural intensification and deserted farmland, draining wetlands, overgrazing by livestock, and the use of fertilisers and pesticides including neonicotinoid chemicals. The fragmentation of pollinator-friendly habitat substantially boosts the threat of extinctions at local level.
Global warming is also revealed to be a significant danger: Over half of all at-risk butterfly species in the European continent are endangered by the climate change crisis – approximately twofold the amount as a decade ago.
As many as nine out of ten of plants that flower in European nations require insect pollination, according to Dr Denis Michez. “Unfortunately, native bee groups are in sharp decrease and cannot readily be substituted by domesticated hives,” he said. “If non-managed bees die out, many non-cultivated plants might be at risk too – of which flower-rich meadows and beautiful orchid species are just a few examples.”
Fifteen types of bumblebee species, which perform a vital function in aiding the pollination of crops such as peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and 14 types of cellophane bees, famous for fertilizing trees such as willow trees and red maples, are now classified as threatened. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee exclusive to the European continent and the sole species of this genus in the European continent, is now evaluated as severely threatened – the scientific classification most akin to disappearance in the wild.
Butterflies that are solely present on mountain tops are highly susceptible to climate change as they need to move uphill as their habitats become more heated but eventually run out of space. In Spain’s southern region, the Nevada grayling and the Andalusian anomalous blue butterfly are among over forty percent of European endemics (exclusive to Europe) facing extinction.
In the Mediterranean, varieties such as the severely threatened grayling of Karpathos are threatened by extreme drought and wildfires.
At the same time, in the Far North, global warming is leading to the forest boundary to shift northward by dozens of meters each year, with bushes encroaching on wetlands and tundra. Hotter climates also mean caribou can no longer cross the ice sheets to feed on Arctic meadows and prevent them from overgrowing. Eight types of butterflies are at risk of extinction in this zone, including the fritillary of Freyja and the Arctic ringlet butterfly.
“The greatest environment for all these pollinating species is grassland rich in flowers and that is vanishing rapidly across European nations because of all these factors,” stated a lead coordinator for the butterfly assessment. “The encouraging aspect is that so many citizens are aware now and there’s a lot more awareness. Under the EU nature restoration legislation, all member countries have to halt the decline in pollinating species by twenty-thirty, and they are going to have to begin taking action. There are property owners who are engaged. It is hoped they can get the incentives that will support them on their way.”
According to Martin Warren, there is “easy opportunities” in terms of action for pollinators which will not decrease agricultural output – and may enhance it – such as growers establishing margins rich in flowers around their fields.
the EU’s environment commissioner, portrayed the protection status of non-managed bees, butterfly species and other pollinating insects as “dire”.
“Prompt and unified steps is needed to address this risk. Together with participating nations, the EU Commission has put in place an Europe-wide monitoring system for pollinators based on the EU nature restoration regulation, which will assist in monitoring our progress. Now, we need to concentrate on implementation and cooperation with member states to protect our pollinating insects,” she said.
The issuance of the bee and butterfly assessments is subsequent to the initial Europe-wide assessment of hoverflies, a further vital pollinating insect category. Issued in 2022, it showed that 37% of all hoverfly species in Europe were facing extinction.
