The count of native bee types in the European continent experiencing extinction has increased twofold over the past decade, while the number of threatened butterfly has nearly doubled.
This dire scenario for vital pollinating insects was unveiled by scientific assessments for the IUCN red list, which determined that at least one hundred seventy-two bee species out of over 1900 were at risk of extinction in Europe.
The number of butterflies at risk of extinction in the European continent has risen from thirty-seven to over sixty since the last study, conducted 14 years ago. One species, the large white of Madeira (Pieris wollastoni) has now been confirmed extinct.
“Beyond their aesthetic appeal and cultural importance, pollinating species like bees and butterfly species are lifelines for our health, our food supplies and our financial structures – sustaining the produce, vegetables and seeds that feed us,” stated the IUCN director general. “The latest European red list evaluations reveal serious challenges, with risks increasing for butterfly species and crucial wild bee types.”
The causes of the rapid recent declines are the persistent damage or destruction of natural habitats caused by agricultural intensification and deserted farmland, draining of wetlands, livestock overgrazing, and the application of chemical fertilisers and pesticides including neonicotinoid pesticides. The breaking up of environments suitable for pollinators substantially boosts the danger of extinctions at local level.
Climate change is also demonstrated to be a significant danger: Over half of all endangered butterfly types in the European continent are imperilled by the climate emergency – about twice as many as a previous decade.
Up to 90% of flowering plants in the European continent depend on insect pollination, as per Dr Denis Michez. “Regrettably, wild bee colonies are in sharp decrease and cannot readily be substituted by managed colonies,” he said. “If wild bees disappear, many native plants might be threatened too – of which meadows rich in flowers and attractive orchid varieties are just a couple of instances.”
Fifteen species of bumblebee species, which have an essential part in fertilizing crops such as peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and 14 species of cellophane bees, famous for pollinating trees such as willows along with red maples, are now listed as threatened. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee unique to the European continent and the sole species of this genus group in European nations, is now evaluated as critically endangered – the research category nearest to disappearance in the wild.
Butterfly types that are solely present on mountain tops are highly susceptible to global warming as they must ascend higher as their environments become warmer but ultimately have no room left. In Spain’s southern region, the Nevada grayling and the Andalusian anomalous blue butterfly are among more than 40% of types unique to Europe (solely present in Europe) facing extinction.
In the Mediterranean area, varieties such as the critically endangered Karpathos grayling are endangered by severe dry conditions and fires.
At the same time, in the Arctic region, global heating is resulting in the tree line to shift northward by many meters each year, with underbrush invading wetlands and tundra. Higher temperatures also mean reindeer can no more cross the ice to graze Arctic meadows and maintain them clear. Eight butterfly species are facing extinction in this zone, including Freyja’s fritillary butterfly and the ringlet of the Arctic.
“The biggest living space for all these pollinating species is flower-rich grassland and that is declining quickly throughout the European continent because of all these factors,” said a lead coordinator for the butterfly assessment. “The positive thing is that so many citizens are aware now and there’s a lot more consciousness. Under the European Union nature restoration law, all member countries have to turn around the drop in pollinating species by twenty-thirty, and they are going to have to start doing something. There are land holders who are interested. Let’s hope they can obtain the encouragements that will support them on their way.”
As per the coordinator, there is “readily achievable actions” in terms of measures for pollinating insects which will not lower food production – and might boost it – such as growers developing flower-rich margins around their farmland.
EU commissioner for environment, described the conservation status of non-managed bees, butterfly species and other pollinating insects as “severe”.
“Urgent and collective action is needed to address this risk. Along with participating nations, the EU Commission has put in place an European Union-wide tracking system for pollinating species based on the EU nature restoration regulation, which will aid in following our development. Now, we need to concentrate on implementation and collaboration with member countries to safeguard our pollinating insects,” she said.
The publication of the assessments on bees and butterflies comes after the initial Europe-wide study on hoverflies, an additional essential pollinator group. Issued in twenty-twenty-two, it revealed that over one-third of all hoverfly types in Europe were facing extinction.
