The total of native bee types in European nations facing extinction has more than doubled in the last ten years, whereas the number of endangered butterfly types has nearly doubled.
This critical situation for crucial pollinators was unveiled by scientific assessments for the red list of threatened species, which established that at least 172 bee types out of nearly two thousand were threatened with extinction in the European continent.
The total of butterfly types facing extinction in the European continent has grown from thirty-seven to sixty-five since the previous assessment, performed a decade and a half ago. One species, the Madeiran large white (Pieris wollastoni) has now been classified as extinct.
In addition to their visual charm and cultural value, pollinating insects like bees and butterflies are essential supports for our well-being, our food systems and our economies – supporting the fruits, vegetables and seeds that feed us,” said the IUCN director general. “The most recent European red list evaluations reveal serious challenges, with threats mounting for butterfly types and crucial native bee species.”
The causes of the quick recent decreases are the ongoing damage or destruction of natural habitats caused by agricultural intensification and land abandonment, draining wetlands, livestock overgrazing, and the utilization of pesticides and fertilisers including neonicotinoid chemicals. The fragmentation of pollinator-friendly habitat significantly raises the danger of extinctions at local level.
Global heating is also shown to be a major threat: Fifty-two percent of all at-risk butterfly types in the European continent are imperilled by the climate emergency – approximately double the number as a decade ago.
As many as nine out of ten of flowering plants in Europe rely on animal pollination, as per Dr Denis Michez. “Regrettably, native bee groups are in sharp decrease and cannot readily be substituted by managed colonies,” he said. “If native bees vanish, many wild plants might be threatened too – of which bloom-filled grasslands and beautiful orchid species are just a handful of illustrations.”
Fifteen types of bumblebee types, which perform a vital function in aiding the pollination of legumes like peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and 14 species of cellophane bee types, famous for fertilizing trees such as willows and red maples, are now categorized as at-risk. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee type unique to the European continent and the single type of this genus in European nations, is now evaluated as critically endangered – the scientific category closest to dying out in natural habitats.
Butterfly species that are exclusively located on mountain peaks are highly susceptible to global heating as they must ascend higher as their habitats become warmer but in the end have no room left. In Spain’s southern region, the grayling of Nevada and the anomalous blue of Andalusia are among above 40 percent of species endemic to Europe (exclusive to Europe) at risk of extinction.
In the Mediterranean area, species such as the highly at-risk Karpathos grayling butterfly are endangered by extreme drought and wildfires.
Meanwhile, in the Far North, global heating is resulting in the forest boundary to move north by tens of metres each year, with scrub encroaching on bog and tundra. Warmer conditions also mean caribou can no longer cross the frozen water to graze Arctic grasslands and keep them open. 8 butterfly varieties are threatened with extinction in this area, including Freyja’s fritillary and the ringlet of the Arctic.
“The largest living space for all these pollinating species is grassland rich in flowers and that is disappearing very fast in the European continent because of all these reasons,” stated Martin Warren. “The encouraging aspect is that so many individuals care now and there’s a lot more understanding. Under the EU’s nature restoration regulation, all member states have to halt the drop in pollinating insects by 2030, and they are going to have to initiate measures. There are landowners who are involved. We hope they can obtain the incentives that will assist them on their way.”
As per the coordinator, there is “easy opportunities” in terms of action for pollinators which will not decrease food production – and may enhance it – such as agricultural producers establishing margins rich in flowers around their fields.
EU commissioner for environment, described the protection status of native bees, butterflies and additional pollinators as “critical”.
“Urgent and collective action is needed to address this threat. In collaboration with member states, the EU Commission has established an EU-wide monitoring system for pollinating insects based on the European Union nature restoration legislation, which will help to track our development. Now, we need to prioritize application and cooperation with member countries to preserve our pollinating insects,” she said.
The issuance of the evaluations of bees along with butterflies is subsequent to the first European-wide study on hoverflies, another vital group of pollinators. Released in 2022, it revealed that thirty-seven percent of all hoverfly varieties in Europe were at risk of extinction.
