The number of non-managed bee varieties in Europe confronting extinction has over doubled during the previous ten-year period, while the total of endangered butterfly types has close to doubled.
This pressing issue for essential pollinating insects was unveiled by scientific studies for the IUCN red list, which found that at least over 170 bee species out of over 1900 were facing extinction in European nations.
The total of butterfly types facing extinction in Europe has risen from thirty-seven to sixty-five since the earlier research, performed 14 years ago. One type, the Madeiran large white (Pieris wollastoni) has now been declared extinct.
“Beyond their beauty and cultural importance, pollinating insects like bees and butterfly species are essential supports for our health, our food chains and our economic systems – sustaining the produce, vegetables and seeds that sustain us,” commented the IUCN’s director general. “The latest European red list assessments reveal major obstacles, with risks increasing for butterflies and crucial non-managed bee species.”
The factors of the rapid recent declines are the persistent destruction or damage of living environments caused by agricultural intensification and land abandonment, draining of wetlands, excessive grazing by animals, and the application of fertilisers and pesticides including neonicotinoid chemicals. The fragmentation of environments suitable for pollinators greatly increases the risk of local extinctions.
Global warming is also revealed to be a significant danger: 52% of all endangered butterflies in Europe are threatened by the climate change crisis – about twofold the amount as a decade ago.
Nearly ninety percent of plants that flower in European nations depend on animal pollination, as stated by Dr Denis Michez. “Regrettably, native bee populations are in sharp decrease and cannot be easily replaced by managed bee colonies,” he said. “If non-managed bees die out, many wild plants might be threatened too – of which flower-rich meadows and beautiful orchid species are just a few examples.”
Fifteen types of bumblebee types, which perform a vital function in aiding the pollination of legumes like peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and fourteen varieties of cellophane bee species, famous for pollinating trees such as willow trees and red maples, are now classified as threatened. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee type found only in the mainland and the sole species of this biological genus in Europe, is now classified as severely threatened – the scientific classification closest to dying out in natural habitats.
Butterflies that are exclusively located on high-altitude areas are especially at risk to climate change as they need to move uphill as their environments become more heated but ultimately run out of space. In Spain’s southern region, the grayling of Nevada and the anomalous blue of Andalusia are among above 40 percent of types unique to Europe (exclusive to Europe) facing extinction.
In the Mediterranean, species such as the severely threatened Karpathos grayling are endangered by extreme dry conditions and fires.
Meanwhile, in the Arctic region, climate change is causing the tree line to advance northwards by tens of metres each year, with bushes taking over marsh and tundra. Hotter climates also mean reindeer can no more cross the ice sheets to browse northern grasslands and keep them open. 8 butterfly varieties are at risk of extinction in this area, including the fritillary of Freyja and the Arctic ringlet butterfly.
“The biggest environment for all these pollinating insects is bloom-filled grassy areas and that is declining quickly across European nations because of all these reasons,” remarked a lead coordinator for the butterfly assessment. “The good news is that so many individuals are concerned now and there’s a lot more consciousness. Under the EU’s nature restoration regulation, all participating nations have to halt the decrease in pollinating species by the year 2030, and they are going to have to start doing something. There are property owners who are interested. We hope they can obtain the encouragements that will support them on their way.”
As per Warren, there is “low-hanging fruit” in terms of action for pollinating insects which will not lower agricultural output – and might boost it – such as growers developing bloom-filled edges around their cultivated areas.
EU commissioner for environment, portrayed the preservation condition of non-managed bees, butterfly species and other pollinating insects as “severe”.
“Immediate and joint measures is required to address this threat. Along with member states, the European Commission has put in place an Europe-wide tracking system for pollinating species based on the EU nature restoration law, which will help to track our advancement. Now, we need to concentrate on application and collaboration with member states to preserve our pollinators,” she said.
The publication of the assessments on bees and butterflies is subsequent to the first European-wide study on hoverflies, a further essential pollinator group. Published in 2022, it showed that 37% of all hoverfly types in European nations were at risk of extinction.
