The total of non-managed bee varieties in European nations facing disappearance has more than doubled over the past decade, while the number of endangered butterfly types has almost doubled.
This dire scenario for vital pollinating insects was revealed by scientific assessments for the IUCN red list, which determined that at least over 170 bee types out of over 1900 were at risk of extinction in European nations.
The total of butterflies at risk of extinction in European nations has grown from thirty-seven to sixty-five since the earlier research, performed a decade and a half ago. One species, the Madeiran large white (Pieris wollastoni) has now been classified as extinct.
In addition to their beauty and cultural value, pollinating insects like bees and butterflies are essential supports for our well-being, our food systems and our financial structures – supporting the fruits, veggies and seeds that sustain us,” said the IUCN’s director general. “The newest assessments of the European red list reveal major obstacles, with threats growing for butterfly species and essential native bee varieties.”
The causes of the rapid recent declines are the persistent destruction or damage of habitats caused by farming intensification and abandoned land, draining wetlands, overgrazing by livestock, and the use of pesticides and fertilisers including neonicotinoid chemicals. The fragmentation of habitat friendly to pollinators greatly increases the threat of disappearances in specific areas.
Global warming is also demonstrated to be a significant danger: 52% of all at-risk butterfly species in European nations are threatened by the climate emergency – approximately double the number as a previous decade.
Nearly ninety percent of plants that flower in European nations rely on pollination by animals, as stated by the lead coordinator of the wild bee assessment. “Regrettably, wild bee groups are in drastic decline and cannot readily be substituted by domesticated hives,” he said. “If native bees vanish, many non-cultivated plants might be threatened too – of which flower-rich meadows and lovely orchid types are just a few examples.”
Fifteen types of bumblebee species, which play a crucial role in fertilizing peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and fourteen varieties of cellophane bee types, famous for aiding tree pollination such as willows and red maples, are now classified as threatened. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee found only in the mainland and the single type of this genus group in European nations, is now evaluated as severely threatened – the research category nearest to disappearance in the wild.
Butterfly species that are exclusively located on high-altitude areas are especially at risk to climate change as they must ascend higher as their environments become warmer but ultimately run out of space. In Spain’s southern region, the grayling of Nevada and the Andalusian anomalous blue butterfly are among more than 40% of types unique to Europe (only found in Europe) facing extinction.
In the Mediterranean region, varieties such as the highly at-risk grayling of Karpathos are endangered by intense drought and wildfires.
At the same time, in the Arctic region, climate change is causing the tree line to move north by tens of metres each year, with underbrush taking over bog and tundra. Hotter climates also mean caribou can not anymore cross the ice to graze Arctic meadows and keep them open. 8 butterfly varieties are threatened with extinction in this zone, including Freyja’s fritillary butterfly and the Arctic ringlet.
“The biggest living space for all these pollinators is grassland rich in flowers and that is disappearing very fast across Europe because of all these elements,” remarked one of the lead coordinators of the butterflies assessment. “The positive thing is that so many people care now and there’s a lot more awareness. Under the EU’s nature restoration regulation, all member states have to turn around the decrease in pollinators by 2030, and they are going to have to start doing something. There are property owners who are interested. Let’s hope they can obtain the encouragements that will support them on their way.”
As per the coordinator, there is “readily achievable actions” in terms of action for pollinating species which won’t reduce food production – and may enhance it – such as growers developing bloom-filled edges around their fields.
Jessika Roswall, described the protection status of non-managed bees, butterfly species and other pollinating insects as “severe”.
“Urgent and collective action is required to tackle this threat. Together with member countries, the Commission of the European Union has put in place an European Union-wide monitoring system for pollinators based on the EU nature restoration regulation, which will help to track our development. Now, we need to prioritize execution and collaboration with participating nations to preserve our pollinators,” she said.
The publication of the bee and butterfly assessments is subsequent to the pioneering European-wide assessment of hoverflies, an additional crucial pollinating insect category. Published in 2022, it revealed that over one-third of all hoverfly species in European nations were facing extinction.
