The total of non-managed bee varieties in the European continent experiencing disappearance has over doubled during the previous ten-year period, while the count of at-risk butterfly types has close to doubled.
This critical situation for crucial pollinators was revealed by scientific studies for the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) red list, which found that at least over 170 bee varieties out of over 1900 were threatened with extinction in European nations.
The number of butterfly species at risk of extinction in Europe has increased from thirty-seven to sixty-five since the earlier research, carried out over a decade past. One species, the large white of Madeira (Pieris wollastoni) has now been classified as extinct.
“Beyond their beauty and cultural value, pollinators like bees along with butterflies are crucial elements for our physical condition, our food chains and our economies – sustaining the produce, vegetables and seeds that sustain us,” said Grethel Aguilar. “The most recent European red list assessments reveal serious challenges, with threats increasing for butterfly types and vital wild bee types.”
The factors of the swift recent drops are the ongoing damage or destruction of natural habitats caused by agricultural intensification and deserted farmland, wetland drainage, excessive grazing by animals, and the use of pesticides and fertilisers including neonicotinoids. The breaking up of pollinator-friendly habitat significantly raises the risk of local extinctions.
Global heating is also demonstrated to be a major threat: Over half of all at-risk butterfly types in the European continent are imperilled by the climate crisis – roughly double the number as a decade ago.
Up to ninety percent of blooming plants in Europe depend on insect pollination, according to Dr Denis Michez. “Regrettably, non-managed bee populations are in severe drop and are not easily replaceable by managed bee colonies,” he said. “If native bees disappear, many native plants might be threatened too – of which bloom-filled grasslands and lovely orchid types are just a few examples.”
15 varieties of bumblebee types, which play a crucial role in fertilizing peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and fourteen varieties of cellophane bees, famous for pollinating trees such as willow trees and red maples, are now listed as threatened. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee exclusive to the European continent and the only species of this biological genus in European nations, is now evaluated as critically endangered – the scientific classification closest to disappearance in the wild.
Butterfly types that are only found on high-altitude areas are highly susceptible to climate change as they must ascend higher as their living spaces become hotter but ultimately exhaust available space. In Spain’s southern region, the Nevada grayling and the Andalusian anomalous blue are among more than 40% of species endemic to Europe (solely present in Europe) facing extinction.
In the Mediterranean region, species such as the severely threatened Karpathos grayling butterfly are endangered by intense wildfires and drought.
At the same time, in the Far North, climate change is resulting in the timberline to shift northward by tens of metres each year, with underbrush taking over wetlands and tundra. Higher temperatures also mean Arctic deer can no more cross the frozen water to browse Arctic grasslands and keep them open. 8 butterfly varieties are threatened with extinction in this region, including the fritillary of Freyja and the Arctic ringlet butterfly.
“The largest environment for all these pollinating insects is grassland rich in flowers and that is vanishing rapidly throughout European nations because of all these reasons,” remarked Martin Warren. “The good news is that so many people are aware now and there’s a lot more awareness. Under the European Union nature restoration law, all participating nations have to reverse the drop in pollinating insects by twenty-thirty, and they are going to have to start doing something. There are landowners who are engaged. We hope they can receive the encouragements that will help them on their way.”
As stated by Martin Warren, there is “low-hanging fruit” in terms of steps for pollinating insects which won’t reduce food production – and might boost it – such as agricultural producers creating margins rich in flowers around their fields.
EU commissioner for environment, described the conservation status of non-managed bees, butterfly species and other pollinating insects as “dire”.
“Urgent and collective action is required to tackle this risk. Along with participating nations, the EU Commission has put in place an EU-wide monitoring system for pollinating insects based on the EU nature restoration law, which will assist in monitoring our advancement. Now, we need to concentrate on execution and collaboration with participating nations to safeguard our pollinating insects,” she said.
The publication of the evaluations of bees along with butterflies comes after the pioneering EU-wide study on hoverflies, another essential group of pollinators. Published in twenty-twenty-two, it showed that 37% of all hoverfly species in European nations were facing extinction.
