The total of native bee species in European nations facing disappearance has increased twofold during the previous ten-year period, and the count of at-risk butterfly has nearly doubled.
This critical situation for crucial pollinating species was revealed by scientific assessments for the red list of threatened species, which established that at least over 170 bee types out of nearly two thousand were facing extinction in European nations.
The count of butterfly types at risk of extinction in Europe has grown from 37 to sixty-five since the earlier research, conducted a decade and a half ago. A single species, the Madeiran large white (Pieris wollastoni) has now been declared extinct.
In addition to their beauty and cultural significance, pollinating insects like bees and butterfly species are essential supports for our health, our food supplies and our economies – sustaining the produce, vegetables and seeds that feed us,” commented Grethel Aguilar. “The newest European red list assessments reveal significant difficulties, with threats growing for butterflies and vital native bee types.”
The reasons of the quick recent decreases are the persistent destruction or damage of living environments caused by farming intensification and land abandonment, draining wetlands, overgrazing by livestock, and the use of fertilisers and pesticides including neonicotinoids. The breaking up of pollinator-friendly habitat greatly increases the threat of extinctions at local level.
Global heating is also demonstrated to be a significant danger: Fifty-two percent of all at-risk butterflies in Europe are endangered by the climate change crisis – approximately double the number as a decade ago.
Nearly 90% of flowering plants in Europe rely on animal pollination, as stated by the wild bee assessment’s lead coordinator. “Unfortunately, non-managed bee groups are in sharp decrease and cannot be easily replaced by managed bee colonies,” he said. “If native bees die out, many native plants might be at risk too – of which flower-rich meadows and attractive orchid varieties are just a couple of instances.”
Fifteen species of bumblebee species, which perform a vital function in aiding the pollination of crops such as peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and 14 species of cellophane bee types, known for pollinating trees such as willows and red maples, are now categorized as at-risk. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee type found only in the European continent and the sole species of this biological genus in European nations, is now assessed as severely threatened – the research category closest to disappearance in the wild.
Butterflies that are solely present on mountain peaks are highly susceptible to climate change as they need to move uphill as their habitats become more heated but in the end run out of space. In Spain’s southern region, the Nevada grayling and the anomalous blue of Andalusia are among more than 40% of species endemic to Europe (solely present in Europe) facing extinction.
In the Mediterranean, species such as the critically endangered Karpathos grayling butterfly are imperilled by intense drought and wildfires.
Meanwhile, in the Arctic Circle, climate change is causing the tree line to shift northward by dozens of meters each year, with bushes invading marsh and tundra. Hotter climates also mean reindeer can no more cross the frozen water to feed on northern grasslands and maintain them clear. 8 butterfly varieties are facing extinction in this region, including the fritillary of Freyja and the ringlet of the Arctic.
“The biggest living space for all these pollinators is bloom-filled grassy areas and that is disappearing very fast throughout Europe because of all these elements,” said a lead coordinator for the butterfly assessment. “The positive thing is that so many people are concerned now and there’s a lot more consciousness. Under the EU nature restoration legislation, all member countries have to halt the decrease in pollinating species by twenty-thirty, and they are going to have to start doing something. There are land holders who are involved. Let’s hope they can get the encouragements that will help them on their way.”
As per Warren, there is “low-hanging fruit” in terms of action for pollinators which won’t reduce agricultural output – and may enhance it – such as agricultural producers establishing flower-rich margins around their cultivated areas.
EU commissioner for environment, described the preservation condition of native bees, butterflies and additional pollinators as “severe”.
“Urgent and collective action is required to confront this threat. In collaboration with member countries, the EU Commission has implemented an Europe-wide monitoring system for pollinating species based on the European Union nature restoration legislation, which will help to track our development. Now, we need to focus on execution and partnership with member countries to safeguard our pollinators,” she said.
The publication of the evaluations of bees along with butterflies is subsequent to the pioneering Europe-wide evaluation of hoverflies, an additional essential pollinator group. Published in 2022, it revealed that thirty-seven percent of all hoverfly types in Europe were at risk of extinction.
