The number of native bee species in the European continent confronting disappearance has over doubled over the past decade, whereas the total of threatened butterfly types has nearly doubled.
This pressing issue for crucial pollinators was unveiled by scientific assessments for the red list of threatened species, which found that at least one hundred seventy-two bee species out of nearly two thousand were at risk of extinction in Europe.
The count of butterflies threatened with extinction in Europe has increased from thirty-seven to over sixty since the last study, carried out over a decade past. One species, the Madeiran large white butterfly (Pieris wollastoni) has now been confirmed extinct.
In addition to their aesthetic appeal and cultural significance, pollinating insects like bees and butterfly species are lifelines for our well-being, our food chains and our economies – maintaining the fruits, veggies and seeds that sustain us,” stated the IUCN’s director general. “The newest assessments of the European red list reveal serious challenges, with dangers growing for butterfly species and vital native bee types.”
The factors of the swift recent drops are the ongoing destruction or damage of natural habitats caused by agricultural intensification and deserted farmland, draining of wetlands, overgrazing by livestock, and the use of pesticides and fertilisers including neonicotinoid chemicals. The division 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 the European continent are endangered by the climate emergency – roughly double the number as a ten years ago.
As many as 90% of flowering plants in the European continent rely on pollination by animals, as per Dr Denis Michez. “Unfortunately, wild bee colonies are in sharp decrease and are not easily replaceable by domesticated hives,” he said. “If native bees die out, many native plants might be in danger as well – of which bloom-filled grasslands and attractive orchid varieties are just a few examples.”
Fifteen types of bumblebees, which play a crucial role in pollinating peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and fourteen varieties of cellophane bees, famous for aiding tree pollination such as willows and red maples, are now listed as threatened. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee species unique to the mainland and the only species of this biological genus in European nations, is now evaluated as critically at risk – the scientific category closest to dying out in natural habitats.
Butterflies that are exclusively located on mountain tops are highly susceptible to global heating as they need to move uphill as their living spaces become more heated but ultimately exhaust available space. In Spain’s southern region, the Nevada grayling butterfly and the Andalusian anomalous blue are among over forty percent of species endemic to Europe (exclusive to Europe) facing extinction.
In the Mediterranean region, types such as the critically endangered grayling of Karpathos are endangered by intense drought and wildfires.
In the meantime, in the Arctic Circle, global heating is resulting in the forest boundary to move north by dozens of meters each year, with bushes taking over wetlands and tundra. Hotter climates also mean caribou can no more cross the frozen water to browse Arctic grasslands and prevent them from overgrowing. Eight types of butterflies are threatened with extinction in this region, including Freyja’s fritillary butterfly and the ringlet of the Arctic.
“The greatest habitat for all these pollinating insects is flower-rich grassland and that is declining quickly in Europe because of all these reasons,” remarked one of the lead coordinators of the butterflies assessment. “The good news is that so many individuals are concerned now and there’s a lot more consciousness. Under the European Union nature restoration law, all participating nations have to halt the drop in pollinators by 2030, and they are going to have to start doing something. There are land holders who are involved. It is hoped they can get the motivations that will help them on their way.”
As stated by Warren, there is “easy opportunities” in terms of action for pollinating insects which will not decrease agricultural output – and may enhance it – such as growers establishing margins rich in flowers around their cultivated areas.
EU commissioner for environment, characterized the preservation condition of wild bees, butterflies and other pollinators as “critical”.
“Urgent and collective action is required to tackle this danger. In collaboration with participating nations, the European Commission has implemented an European Union-wide observation system for pollinating species based on the EU nature restoration law, which will help to track our progress. Now, we need to focus on execution and cooperation with member countries to preserve our pollinating insects,” she said.
The release of the bee and butterfly assessments follows the pioneering European-wide assessment of hoverflies, an additional crucial pollinating insect category. Published in twenty-twenty-two, it revealed that 37% of all hoverfly species in European nations were at risk of extinction.
