The number of native bee species in Europe confronting extinction has increased twofold during the previous ten-year period, whereas the number of at-risk butterfly species has nearly doubled.
This critical situation for essential pollinating species was disclosed by scientific studies for the red list of threatened species, which established that at least one hundred seventy-two bee varieties out of over 1900 were facing extinction in Europe.
The number of butterfly species facing extinction in the European continent has increased from thirty-seven to 65 since the earlier research, performed 14 years ago. One type, the Madeiran large white (Pieris wollastoni) has now been declared extinct.
In addition to their beauty and cultural value, pollinating species like bees along with butterflies are essential supports for our physical condition, our food systems and our economies – supporting the produce, vegetables and seeds that nourish us,” stated the IUCN’s director general. “The latest European red list assessments reveal significant difficulties, with risks increasing for butterfly species and essential native bee species.”
The factors of the quick recent decreases are the persistent destruction or damage of habitats caused by farming intensification and land abandonment, draining of wetlands, excessive grazing by animals, and the use of fertilisers and pesticides including neonicotinoid chemicals. The division of environments suitable for pollinators substantially boosts the risk of disappearances in specific areas.
Global warming is also demonstrated to be a major threat: Over half of all at-risk butterflies in European nations are endangered by the climate change crisis – approximately double the number as a previous decade.
As many as ninety percent of blooming plants in European nations require insect pollination, as per the wild bee assessment’s lead coordinator. “Regrettably, native bee groups are in drastic decline and cannot be easily replaced by domesticated hives,” he said. “If native bees vanish, many native plants might be threatened too – of which bloom-filled grasslands and lovely orchid types are just a few examples.”
Fifteen types of bumblebees, which have an essential part in aiding the pollination of crops such as peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and 14 types of cellophane bee types, recognized for fertilizing trees such as willow trees and red maples, are now listed as threatened. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee type found only in the mainland and the only species of this genus group in European nations, is now assessed as critically at risk – the scientific classification most akin to dying out in natural habitats.
Butterflies that are only found on mountain tops are highly susceptible to global warming as they need to move uphill as their habitats become hotter but ultimately run out of space. In Spain’s southern region, the Nevada grayling butterfly and the Andalusian anomalous blue butterfly are among more than 40% of European endemics (only found in Europe) threatened with extinction.
In the Mediterranean area, types such as the severely threatened Karpathos grayling are threatened by intense dry conditions and fires.
At the same time, in the Arctic region, climate change is causing the tree line to advance northwards by many meters each year, with scrub encroaching on marsh and tundra. Hotter climates also mean reindeer can not anymore cross the ice to graze northern grasslands and prevent them from overgrowing. Eight butterfly species are facing extinction in this area, including the fritillary of Freyja and the Arctic ringlet butterfly.
“The greatest environment for all these pollinating insects is flower-rich grassland and that is vanishing rapidly across European nations because of all these factors,” remarked Martin Warren. “The encouraging aspect is that so many citizens are concerned now and there’s a lot more awareness. Under the EU nature restoration legislation, all member states have to reverse the decline 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 obtain the encouragements that will help them on their way.”
As per Martin Warren, there is “readily achievable actions” in terms of measures for pollinators which won’t reduce agricultural output – and might boost it – such as growers establishing margins rich in flowers around their farmland.
EU commissioner for environment, described the preservation condition of non-managed bees, butterfly species and other pollinating insects as “dire”.
“Immediate and joint measures is needed to tackle this risk. Together with member states, the EU Commission has established an Europe-wide monitoring system for pollinators based on the EU nature restoration regulation, which will assist in monitoring our advancement. Now, we need to concentrate on execution and collaboration with member countries to preserve our pollinating insects,” she said.
The release of the bee and butterfly assessments follows the first Europe-wide evaluation of hoverflies, another crucial pollinator group. Issued in twenty-twenty-two, it revealed that thirty-seven percent of all hoverfly types in European nations were facing extinction.
