The count of non-managed bee types in the European continent confronting disappearance has more than doubled over the past decade, whereas the total of threatened butterfly species has nearly doubled.
This pressing issue for essential pollinating species was revealed by scientific studies for the red list of threatened species, which determined that at least one hundred seventy-two bee types out of over 1900 were threatened with extinction in the European continent.
The total of butterfly species facing extinction in Europe has increased from thirty-seven to 65 since the last study, carried out 14 years ago. One type, the Madeiran large white (Pieris wollastoni) has now been classified as extinct.
In addition to their visual charm and cultural significance, pollinating insects like bees and butterflies are essential supports for our physical condition, our food supplies and our economies – sustaining the produce, vegetables and seeds that nourish us,” stated the IUCN’s director general. “The latest European red list evaluations reveal significant difficulties, with risks growing for butterfly species and vital native bee types.”
The reasons of the quick recent decreases are the persistent destruction or damage of habitats caused by intensive agriculture and abandoned land, draining wetlands, overgrazing by livestock, and the application of fertilisers and pesticides including neonicotinoid pesticides. The breaking up of habitat friendly to pollinators greatly increases the risk of disappearances in specific areas.
Global heating is also revealed to be a major threat: 52% of all threatened butterfly types in Europe are threatened by the climate emergency – roughly twofold the amount as a decade ago.
Up to ninety percent of blooming plants in Europe rely on animal pollination, as per Dr Denis Michez. “Regrettably, native bee groups are in severe drop and cannot be easily replaced by managed colonies,” he said. “If wild bees die out, many native plants might be threatened too – of which meadows rich in flowers and lovely orchid types are just a few examples.”
Fifteen types of bumblebee species, which play a crucial role in pollinating crops such as peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and fourteen varieties of cellophane bee species, known for fertilizing trees such as willows along with red maples, are now categorized as at-risk. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee species found only in the continent and the sole species of this biological genus in the European continent, is now evaluated as critically at risk – the scientific category most akin to disappearance in the wild.
Butterfly types that are exclusively located on high-altitude areas are highly susceptible to global heating as they need to move uphill as their environments become more heated but eventually 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 region, species such as the severely threatened grayling of Karpathos are imperilled by severe drought and wildfires.
Meanwhile, in the Arctic Circle, climate change is resulting in the tree line to advance northwards by many meters each year, with scrub encroaching on marsh and tundra. Hotter climates also mean Arctic deer can not anymore cross the ice sheets to feed on Arctic grasslands and keep them open. Eight butterfly species are at risk of extinction in this zone, including Freyja’s fritillary butterfly and the ringlet of the Arctic.
“The greatest living space for all these pollinating insects is grassland rich in flowers and that is disappearing very fast in European nations because of all these reasons,” stated 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 understanding. Under the EU’s nature restoration regulation, all member states have to reverse the decrease in pollinating insects by the year 2030, and they are going to have to begin taking action. There are landowners who are involved. Let’s hope they can get the motivations that will help them on their way.”
According to the coordinator, there is “low-hanging fruit” in terms of steps for pollinators which will not lower crop yields – and might boost it – such as farmers developing flower-rich margins around their farmland.
EU commissioner for environment, portrayed the conservation status of native bees, butterflies and additional pollinators as “critical”.
“Prompt and unified steps is needed to confront this risk. Together with member countries, the EU Commission has established an Europe-wide monitoring system for pollinating insects based on the EU nature restoration regulation, which will assist in monitoring our advancement. Now, we need to prioritize application and collaboration with member states to safeguard our pollinating species,” she said.
The release of the bee and butterfly assessments is subsequent to the pioneering EU-wide study on hoverflies, another essential pollinator group. Published in twenty-twenty-two, it showed that thirty-seven percent of all hoverfly species in European nations were facing extinction.
