The count of native bee species in the European continent facing disappearance has over doubled in the last ten years, and the count of threatened butterfly species has close to doubled.
This critical situation for essential pollinators was unveiled by scientific studies for the IUCN red list, which established that at least over 170 bee varieties out of over 1900 were threatened with extinction in the European continent.
The number of butterflies at risk of extinction in European nations has grown from thirty-seven to sixty-five since the earlier research, conducted 14 years ago. One species, the Madeiran large white butterfly (Pieris wollastoni) has now been declared extinct.
In addition to their aesthetic appeal and cultural importance, pollinators like bees and butterflies are essential supports for our physical condition, our food chains and our financial structures – maintaining the produce, vegetables and seeds that feed us,” stated the IUCN’s director general. “The latest assessments of the European red list reveal serious challenges, with risks increasing for butterfly types and essential non-managed bee types.”
The causes of the quick recent decreases are the continuing destruction or damage of habitats caused by farming intensification and deserted farmland, draining wetlands, livestock overgrazing, and the application of fertilisers and pesticides including neonicotinoid pesticides. The breaking up of pollinator-friendly habitat significantly raises the threat of extinctions at local level.
Global warming is also demonstrated to be a primary risk: Over half of all threatened butterfly types in the European continent are threatened by the climate change crisis – approximately twice as many as a decade ago.
Nearly nine out of ten of blooming plants in Europe depend on pollination by animals, as stated by Dr Denis Michez. “Sadly, non-managed bee colonies are in severe drop and cannot readily be substituted by managed bee colonies,” he said. “If native bees die out, many wild plants might be in danger as well – of which bloom-filled grasslands and attractive orchid varieties are just a couple of instances.”
15 varieties of bumblebee types, which perform a vital function in aiding the pollination of peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and 14 types of cellophane bee species, known for fertilizing trees such as willow trees and red maples, are now categorized as at-risk. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee type unique to the mainland and the only species of this biological genus in European nations, is now assessed as critically endangered – the scientific category nearest to dying out in natural habitats.
Butterflies that are solely present on mountain peaks are highly susceptible to climate change as they have to climb upward as their habitats become warmer but ultimately run out of space. In Spain’s southern region, the grayling of Nevada and the Andalusian anomalous blue butterfly are among above 40 percent of species endemic to Europe (solely present in Europe) facing extinction.
In the Mediterranean, varieties such as the critically endangered grayling of Karpathos are threatened by intense wildfires and drought.
At the same time, in the Far North, global warming is leading to the timberline to advance northwards by many meters each year, with scrub invading marsh and tundra. Hotter climates also mean caribou can not anymore cross the frozen water to graze northern grasslands and prevent them from overgrowing. 8 butterfly varieties are at risk of extinction in this zone, including Freyja’s fritillary and the ringlet of the Arctic.
“The greatest living space for all these pollinating species is flower-rich grassland and that is vanishing rapidly throughout European nations because of all these factors,” said one of the lead coordinators of the butterflies assessment. “The good news is that so many individuals care now and there’s a lot more understanding. Under the EU’s nature restoration regulation, all participating nations have to turn around the decline in pollinators 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 “easy opportunities” in terms of steps for pollinating species which won’t reduce food production – and may enhance it – such as agricultural producers creating margins rich in flowers around their fields.
Jessika Roswall, described the conservation status of wild bees, butterflies and other pollinators as “critical”.
“Prompt and unified steps is needed to tackle this threat. In collaboration with member countries, the European Commission has put in place an Europe-wide observation system for pollinating insects based on the EU nature restoration law, which will help to track our development. Now, we need to concentrate on application and partnership with participating nations to protect our pollinating insects,” she said.
The release of the evaluations of bees along with butterflies is subsequent to the initial European-wide study on hoverflies, another crucial pollinating insect category. Published in twenty-twenty-two, it disclosed that over one-third of all hoverfly varieties in Europe were at risk of extinction.
