The total of wild bee types in European nations facing dying out has more than doubled over the past decade, and the count of endangered butterfly species has nearly doubled.
This critical situation for vital pollinating species was unveiled by scientific assessments for the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) red list, which found that at least over 170 bee types out of 1,928 were facing extinction in Europe.
The count of butterfly species threatened with extinction in Europe has grown from thirty-seven to 65 since the last study, performed 14 years ago. A single species, the Madeiran large white (Pieris wollastoni) has now been classified as extinct.
“Beyond their beauty and cultural significance, pollinators like bees along with butterflies are essential supports for our well-being, our food chains and our economies – supporting the fruits, vegetables and seeds that feed us,” commented Grethel Aguilar. “The most recent European red list evaluations reveal serious challenges, with risks mounting for butterflies and crucial wild bee types.”
The reasons of the quick recent decreases are the continuing harm or degradation of living environments caused by agricultural intensification and abandoned land, draining of wetlands, livestock overgrazing, and the utilization of pesticides and fertilisers including neonicotinoid pesticides. The breaking up of habitat friendly to pollinators greatly increases the risk of local extinctions.
Global warming is also demonstrated to be a primary risk: Fifty-two percent of all at-risk butterfly species in the European continent are imperilled by the climate change crisis – roughly double the number as a ten years ago.
As many as 90% of plants that flower in Europe rely on pollination by animals, according to the wild bee assessment’s lead coordinator. “Sadly, native bee populations are in severe drop and are not easily replaceable by domesticated hives,” he said. “If native bees disappear, many native plants might be threatened too – of which flower-rich meadows and beautiful orchid species are just a few examples.”
Fifteen types of bumblebees, which play a crucial role in aiding the pollination of legumes like peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and 14 species of cellophane bee types, recognized for aiding tree pollination such as willow trees and red maples, are now listed as threatened. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee type exclusive to the continent and the only species of this genus group in European nations, is now evaluated as severely threatened – the scientific category most akin to extinction in the wild.
Butterfly types that are solely present on mountain tops are especially at risk to climate change as they must ascend higher as their habitats become hotter but eventually exhaust available space. In Spain’s southern region, the Nevada grayling and the Andalusian anomalous blue are among over forty percent of types unique to Europe (only found in Europe) facing extinction.
In the Mediterranean region, varieties such as the severely threatened grayling of Karpathos are endangered by extreme drought and wildfires.
Meanwhile, in the Arctic region, global heating is causing the timberline to move north by many meters each year, with bushes taking over bog and tundra. Hotter climates also mean caribou can not anymore cross the ice sheets to feed on northern grasslands and prevent them from overgrowing. Eight types of butterflies are at risk of extinction in this region, including Freyja’s fritillary butterfly and the Arctic ringlet.
“The biggest living space for all these pollinating insects is grassland rich in flowers and that is disappearing very fast across European nations because of all these factors,” said Martin Warren. “The encouraging aspect is that so many citizens are aware now and there’s a lot more awareness. Under the EU nature restoration legislation, all participating nations have to turn around the decline in pollinating insects by 2030, and they are going to have to initiate measures. There are property owners who are engaged. It is hoped they can receive the motivations that will assist them on their way.”
As stated by Warren, there is “low-hanging fruit” in terms of measures for pollinating species which will not decrease food production – 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 “critical”.
“Immediate and joint measures is required to tackle this risk. In collaboration with member states, the EU Commission has established an Europe-wide tracking system for pollinators based on the EU nature restoration regulation, which will help to track our advancement. Now, we need to concentrate on application and cooperation with member states to protect our pollinating species,” she said.
The publication of the evaluations of bees along with butterflies comes after the first EU-wide study on hoverflies, a further crucial group of pollinators. Released in 2022, it revealed that thirty-seven percent of all hoverfly species in European nations were at risk of extinction.
