The number of non-managed bee varieties in Europe facing extinction has increased twofold in the last ten years, and the number of at-risk butterfly types has nearly doubled.
This dire scenario for crucial pollinating species was revealed by research studies for the IUCN red list, which determined that at least 172 bee varieties out of 1,928 were facing extinction in European nations.
The count of butterfly species facing extinction in Europe has grown from over thirty-five to sixty-five since the previous assessment, performed a decade and a half ago. A single species, the Madeiran large white (Pieris wollastoni) has now been confirmed extinct.
Apart from their visual charm and cultural significance, pollinators like bees and butterfly species are lifelines for our health, our food chains and our financial structures – supporting the fruits, vegetables and seeds that nourish us,” said the IUCN’s director general. “The newest European red list evaluations reveal major obstacles, with threats increasing for butterflies and vital wild bee species.”
The factors of the rapid recent declines are the continuing harm or degradation of living environments caused by farming intensification and abandoned land, draining wetlands, excessive grazing by animals, and the utilization of chemical fertilisers and pesticides including neonicotinoids. The breaking up of environments suitable for pollinators significantly raises the threat of extinctions at local level.
Climate change is also revealed to be a significant danger: Over half of all threatened butterflies in European nations are threatened by the climate emergency – approximately twofold the amount as a ten years ago.
As many as 90% of flowering plants in European nations rely on pollination by animals, as stated by the wild bee assessment’s lead coordinator. “Sadly, 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 flower-rich meadows and beautiful orchid species are just a few examples.”
Fifteen species of bumblebees, which have an essential part in aiding the pollination of peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and fourteen varieties of cellophane bee types, recognized for aiding tree pollination such as willows along with red maples, are now listed as threatened. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee type exclusive to the mainland and the single type of this genus group in the European continent, is now classified as severely threatened – the scientific category closest to disappearance in the wild.
Butterflies that are only found on high-altitude areas are especially at risk to global heating as they need to move uphill as their habitats become warmer but ultimately have no room left. In the southern part of Spain, the Nevada grayling and the anomalous blue of Andalusia are among over forty percent of types unique to Europe (only found in Europe) facing extinction.
In the Mediterranean area, varieties such as the highly at-risk Karpathos grayling are endangered by severe drought and wildfires.
At the same time, in the Far North, global warming is leading to the forest boundary to advance northwards by many meters each year, with bushes encroaching on bog and tundra. Hotter climates also mean reindeer can not anymore cross the ice to browse Arctic grasslands and keep them open. Eight butterfly species are facing extinction in this region, including Freyja’s fritillary and the Arctic ringlet.
“The largest habitat for all these pollinating insects is grassland rich in flowers and that is declining quickly across European nations because of all these reasons,” said Martin Warren. “The positive thing is that so many people care now and there’s a lot more consciousness. Under the European Union nature restoration law, all member countries have to halt the decrease in pollinating insects by 2030, and they are going to have to begin taking action. There are property owners who are involved. It is hoped they can obtain the incentives that will assist them on their way.”
As stated by the coordinator, there is “easy opportunities” in terms of action for pollinators which won’t reduce food production – and may enhance it – such as growers developing margins rich in flowers around their fields.
EU commissioner for environment, portrayed the preservation condition of wild bees, butterflies and other pollinators as “critical”.
“Immediate and joint measures is necessary to confront this risk. In collaboration with member states, the EU Commission has implemented an European Union-wide observation system for pollinating species based on the EU nature restoration regulation, which will aid in following our advancement. Now, we need to concentrate on application and collaboration with member countries to protect our pollinating species,” she said.
The release of the assessments on bees and butterflies comes after the first Europe-wide assessment of hoverflies, a further crucial group of pollinators. Published in 2022, it revealed that thirty-seven percent of all hoverfly varieties in Europe were at risk of extinction.
