The count of non-managed bee types in European nations facing disappearance has over doubled in the last ten years, while the count of at-risk butterfly types has close to doubled.
This critical situation for vital pollinating insects was disclosed by research studies for the red list of threatened species, which determined that at least 172 bee varieties out of over 1900 were threatened with extinction in European nations.
The total of butterfly species at risk of extinction in the European continent has grown from over thirty-five to 65 since the previous assessment, conducted a decade and a half ago. One type, the Madeiran large white (Pieris wollastoni) has now been confirmed extinct.
In addition to their beauty and cultural value, pollinating insects like bees along with butterflies are essential supports for our physical condition, our food chains and our economic systems – sustaining the fruits, veggies and seeds that sustain us,” commented the IUCN director general. “The newest European red list assessments reveal serious challenges, with risks growing for butterflies and essential native bee varieties.”
The factors of the rapid recent declines are the persistent destruction or damage of natural habitats caused by agricultural intensification and deserted farmland, wetland drainage, overgrazing by livestock, and the use of pesticides and fertilisers including neonicotinoid chemicals. The fragmentation of pollinator-friendly habitat greatly increases the threat of disappearances in specific areas.
Global heating is also demonstrated to be a significant danger: Over half of all threatened butterflies in European nations are threatened by the climate crisis – approximately double the number as a ten years ago.
As many as nine out of ten of flowering plants in the European continent depend on animal pollination, as stated by Dr Denis Michez. “Regrettably, wild bee groups are in severe drop and cannot readily be substituted by managed colonies,” he said. “If wild bees vanish, many non-cultivated plants might be at risk too – of which meadows rich in flowers and attractive orchid varieties are just a handful of illustrations.”
Fifteen species of bumblebee species, which play a crucial role in fertilizing legumes like peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and fourteen varieties of cellophane bees, known for pollinating trees such as willows along with red maples, are now classified as threatened. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee found only in the European continent and the only species of this genus in the European continent, is now evaluated as severely threatened – the research category closest to dying out in natural habitats.
Butterfly species that are only found on mountain tops are especially at risk to global heating as they need to move uphill as their living spaces become hotter but in the end exhaust available space. In Spain’s southern region, the grayling of Nevada and the anomalous blue of Andalusia are among more than 40% of types unique to Europe (only found in Europe) threatened with extinction.
In the Mediterranean, species such as the highly at-risk Karpathos grayling are threatened by severe dry conditions and fires.
In the meantime, in the Far North, global warming is resulting in the forest boundary to move north by tens of metres each year, with scrub taking over bog and tundra. Higher temperatures also mean caribou can no more cross the ice to browse northern grasslands and prevent them from overgrowing. Eight butterfly species are facing extinction in this zone, including Freyja’s fritillary and the Arctic ringlet butterfly.
“The biggest environment for all these pollinating species is bloom-filled grassy areas and that is vanishing rapidly across the European continent because of all these factors,” remarked Martin Warren. “The positive thing is that so many individuals are concerned now and there’s a lot more awareness. Under the EU nature restoration legislation, all member states have to halt the drop in pollinating insects by 2030, and they are going to have to start doing something. There are landowners who are engaged. It is hoped they can get the motivations that will help them on their way.”
As per Warren, there is “readily achievable actions” in terms of measures for pollinating species which will not decrease food production – and might boost it – such as growers developing flower-rich margins around their fields.
Jessika Roswall, characterized the preservation condition of wild bees, butterflies and other pollinators as “severe”.
“Prompt and unified steps is required to confront this risk. In collaboration with member states, the Commission of the European Union has put in place an Europe-wide monitoring system for pollinating insects based on the EU nature restoration law, which will assist in monitoring our progress. Now, we need to concentrate on application and collaboration with participating nations to preserve our pollinating insects,” she said.
The release of the bee and butterfly assessments comes after the pioneering Europe-wide evaluation of hoverflies, an additional essential pollinator group. Released in twenty-twenty-two, it disclosed that over one-third of all hoverfly species in Europe were facing extinction.
