The number of wild bee species in Europe confronting dying out has more than doubled in the last ten years, while the number of endangered butterfly types has almost doubled.
This critical situation for vital pollinating species was unveiled by research studies for the IUCN red list, which determined that at least one hundred seventy-two bee varieties out of over 1900 were facing extinction in European nations.
The number of butterflies facing extinction in Europe has increased from over thirty-five to 65 since the earlier research, carried out 14 years ago. A single species, the Madeiran large white (Pieris wollastoni) has now been classified as extinct.
In addition to their visual charm and cultural importance, pollinators like bees and butterflies are crucial elements for our health, our food chains and our financial structures – sustaining the fruits, veggies and seeds that nourish us,” said the IUCN’s director general. “The latest assessments of the European red list reveal serious challenges, with dangers mounting for butterflies and crucial non-managed bee species.”
The factors of the swift recent drops are the persistent destruction or damage of habitats caused by agricultural intensification and land abandonment, draining wetlands, excessive grazing by animals, and the application of pesticides and fertilisers including neonicotinoids. The breaking up of environments suitable for pollinators significantly raises the danger of extinctions at local level.
Global heating is also shown to be a significant danger: Fifty-two percent of all at-risk butterflies in the European continent are endangered by the climate crisis – about double the number as a ten years ago.
As many as ninety percent of blooming plants in Europe rely on insect pollination, as stated by Dr Denis Michez. “Regrettably, wild bee populations are in sharp decrease and cannot be easily replaced by domesticated hives,” he said. “If wild bees die out, many native plants might be in danger as well – of which bloom-filled grasslands and attractive orchid varieties are just a handful of illustrations.”
15 varieties of bumblebee types, which perform a vital function in aiding the pollination of crops such as peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and fourteen varieties of cellophane bees, famous for pollinating trees such as willows and red maples, are now categorized as at-risk. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee exclusive to the mainland and the single type of this genus group in European nations, is now evaluated as severely threatened – the research category most akin to extinction in the wild.
Butterfly types that are exclusively located on mountain peaks are especially at risk to global heating as they have to climb upward as their environments become hotter but ultimately exhaust available space. In the southern part of Spain, the grayling of Nevada and the Andalusian anomalous blue are among above 40 percent of types unique to Europe (only found in Europe) at risk of extinction.
In the Mediterranean, species such as the critically endangered Karpathos grayling butterfly are endangered by extreme wildfires and drought.
Meanwhile, in the Arctic Circle, global heating is resulting in the tree line to advance northwards by many meters each year, with bushes encroaching on wetlands and tundra. Warmer conditions also mean reindeer can not anymore cross the ice to feed on northern grasslands and prevent them from overgrowing. Eight butterfly species are threatened with extinction in this zone, including the fritillary of Freyja and the Arctic ringlet butterfly.
“The biggest environment for all these pollinators is grassland rich in flowers and that is disappearing very fast across Europe because of all these factors,” remarked Martin Warren. “The good news is that so many individuals care now and there’s a lot more understanding. Under the EU’s nature restoration regulation, all member countries have to halt the drop in pollinating species by twenty-thirty, and they are going to have to start doing something. There are property owners who are engaged. Let’s hope they can receive the motivations that will support them on their way.”
As stated by Martin Warren, there is “readily achievable actions” in terms of action for pollinating species which will not lower agricultural output – and may enhance it – such as growers establishing flower-rich margins around their farmland.
the EU’s environment commissioner, described the protection status of non-managed bees, butterfly species and other pollinating insects as “severe”.
“Urgent and collective action is required to address this risk. Together with member states, the European Commission has put in place an Europe-wide monitoring system for pollinating insects based on the European Union nature restoration legislation, which will aid in following our advancement. Now, we need to focus on application and partnership with member countries to preserve our pollinating insects,” she said.
The publication of the bee and butterfly assessments comes after the first European-wide assessment of hoverflies, an additional essential group of pollinators. Released in 2022, it disclosed that 37% of all hoverfly types in the European continent were at risk of extinction.
