The total of wild bee varieties in Europe experiencing dying out has over doubled during the previous ten-year period, while the number of endangered butterfly species has close to doubled.
This critical situation for essential pollinating insects was disclosed by scientific studies for the red list of threatened species, which found that at least 172 bee types out of 1,928 were threatened with extinction in Europe.
The total of butterfly species at risk of extinction in European nations has risen from 37 to 65 since the last study, performed a decade and a half ago. A single species, the Madeiran large white butterfly (Pieris wollastoni) has now been declared extinct.
Apart from their beauty and cultural value, pollinating insects like bees and butterfly species are crucial elements for our physical condition, our food chains and our financial structures – maintaining the produce, vegetables and seeds that nourish us,” commented Grethel Aguilar. “The latest assessments of the European red list reveal significant difficulties, with risks increasing for butterfly species and crucial native bee types.”
The causes of the quick recent decreases are the continuing damage or destruction of habitats caused by intensive agriculture and abandoned land, draining wetlands, overgrazing by livestock, and the utilization of pesticides and fertilisers including neonicotinoid chemicals. The division of environments suitable for pollinators greatly increases the danger of extinctions at local level.
Global heating is also revealed to be a major threat: Over half of all endangered butterflies in European nations are imperilled by the climate crisis – about twofold the amount as a previous decade.
As many as nine out of ten of plants that flower in European nations rely on pollination by animals, according to Dr Denis Michez. “Unfortunately, non-managed bee colonies are in severe drop and cannot readily be substituted by managed bee colonies,” he said. “If native bees die out, many native plants might be threatened too – of which meadows rich in flowers and beautiful orchid species are just a handful of illustrations.”
15 varieties of bumblebees, which perform a vital function in pollinating legumes like peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and fourteen varieties of cellophane bee species, famous for fertilizing trees such as willow trees and red maples, are now classified as threatened. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee species exclusive to the mainland and the only species of this genus in Europe, is now evaluated as severely threatened – the research category most akin to extinction in the wild.
Butterfly species that are solely present on high-altitude areas are especially at risk to global heating as they must ascend higher as their living spaces become hotter but eventually have no room left. In southern Spain, the grayling of Nevada and the anomalous blue of Andalusia are among over forty percent of European endemics (solely present in Europe) facing extinction.
In the Mediterranean, varieties such as the highly at-risk Karpathos grayling butterfly are endangered by extreme drought and wildfires.
Meanwhile, in the Arctic Circle, global heating is resulting in the tree line to advance northwards by many meters each year, with underbrush encroaching on wetlands and tundra. Higher temperatures also mean Arctic deer can no more cross the frozen water to feed on northern grasslands and maintain them clear. Eight butterfly species are threatened with extinction in this area, including Freyja’s fritillary butterfly and the Arctic ringlet butterfly.
“The largest environment for all these pollinating insects is bloom-filled grassy areas and that is disappearing very fast in European nations because of all these elements,” stated Martin Warren. “The good news is that so many citizens are aware now and there’s a lot more understanding. Under the EU nature restoration legislation, all member countries have to halt the decrease in pollinators by 2030, and they are going to have to begin taking action. There are land holders who are interested. We hope they can receive the motivations that will assist them on their way.”
As stated by Warren, there is “readily achievable actions” in terms of measures for pollinators which won’t reduce food production – and may enhance it – such as growers establishing flower-rich margins around their farmland.
EU commissioner for environment, characterized the protection status of non-managed bees, butterfly species and other pollinating insects as “dire”.
“Urgent and collective action is required to address this risk. Along with member states, the Commission of the European Union has put in place an Europe-wide tracking system for pollinators based on the European Union nature restoration legislation, which will help to track our progress. Now, we need to prioritize implementation and partnership with participating nations to safeguard our pollinating insects,” she said.
The issuance of the bee and butterfly assessments is subsequent to the initial Europe-wide assessment of hoverflies, another essential group of pollinators. Released in 2022, it showed that thirty-seven percent of all hoverfly species in European nations were at risk of extinction.
