The total of native bee species in Europe facing dying out has over doubled over the past decade, while the count of at-risk butterfly has nearly doubled.
This dire scenario for crucial pollinators was revealed by scientific assessments for the red list of threatened species, which determined that at least one hundred seventy-two bee species out of over 1900 were facing extinction in the European continent.
The number of butterflies threatened with extinction in European nations has grown from over thirty-five to 65 since the previous assessment, carried out a decade and a half ago. A single species, the large white of Madeira (Pieris wollastoni) has now been confirmed extinct.
“Beyond their visual charm and cultural importance, pollinating species like bees along with butterflies are lifelines for our well-being, our food chains and our economic systems – supporting the fruits, veggies and seeds that sustain us,” said Grethel Aguilar. “The latest European red list evaluations reveal significant difficulties, with threats mounting for butterfly species and crucial wild bee species.”
The reasons of the quick recent decreases are the ongoing destruction or damage of natural habitats caused by farming intensification and abandoned land, draining wetlands, livestock overgrazing, and the application of fertilisers and pesticides including neonicotinoid chemicals. The division of pollinator-friendly habitat significantly raises the risk of local extinctions.
Climate change is also shown to be a primary risk: Over half of all at-risk butterfly species in the European continent are imperilled by the climate crisis – approximately twice as many as a decade ago.
As many as 90% of blooming plants in the European continent require insect pollination, according to the wild bee assessment’s lead coordinator. “Sadly, native bee groups are in drastic decline and are not easily replaceable by domesticated hives,” he said. “If wild bees vanish, many non-cultivated plants might be at risk too – of which meadows rich in flowers and attractive orchid varieties are just a few examples.”
Fifteen species of bumblebee species, which perform a vital function in pollinating peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and fourteen varieties of cellophane bees, known for fertilizing trees such as willows along with red maples, are now classified as threatened. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee found only in the continent and the sole species of this genus group in European nations, is now classified as critically endangered – the scientific category closest to dying out in natural habitats.
Butterfly species that are solely present on mountain peaks are especially at risk to climate change as they have to climb upward as their environments become warmer but eventually have no room left. In southern Spain, the Nevada grayling butterfly and the Andalusian anomalous blue butterfly are among over forty percent of types unique to Europe (solely present in Europe) at risk of extinction.
In the Mediterranean area, varieties such as the severely threatened grayling of Karpathos are imperilled by severe dry conditions and fires.
In the meantime, in the Arctic Circle, global heating is causing the forest boundary to shift northward by many meters each year, with bushes encroaching on wetlands and tundra. Warmer conditions also mean reindeer can not anymore cross the frozen water to graze northern grasslands and keep them open. Eight types of butterflies are threatened with extinction in this zone, including the fritillary of Freyja and the ringlet of the Arctic.
“The largest habitat for all these pollinating insects is grassland rich in flowers and that is disappearing very fast in Europe because of all these elements,” said a lead coordinator for the butterfly assessment. “The encouraging aspect is that so many people are aware now and there’s a lot more consciousness. Under the European Union nature restoration law, all participating nations have to reverse the decrease in pollinating species by the year 2030, and they are going to have to start doing something. There are landowners who are engaged. We hope they can get the incentives that will support them on their way.”
As per the coordinator, there is “low-hanging fruit” in terms of steps for pollinating species which will not lower crop yields – and could improve it – such as agricultural producers establishing flower-rich margins around their farmland.
the EU’s environment commissioner, described the conservation status of native bees, butterflies and additional pollinators as “critical”.
“Urgent and collective action is required to confront this threat. Along with member countries, the Commission of the European Union has put in place an European Union-wide monitoring system for pollinating insects based on the EU nature restoration regulation, which will assist in monitoring our progress. Now, we need to prioritize execution and partnership with participating nations to preserve our pollinating insects,” she said.
The release of the assessments on bees and butterflies follows the pioneering EU-wide study on hoverflies, an additional crucial group of pollinators. Published in twenty-twenty-two, it showed that over one-third of all hoverfly types in European nations were facing extinction.
