The number of non-managed bee varieties in European nations facing disappearance has increased twofold in the last ten years, and the number of at-risk butterfly types has almost doubled.
This critical situation for essential pollinators was disclosed by scientific studies for the red list of threatened species, which established that at least 172 bee types out of nearly two thousand were facing extinction in European nations.
The number of butterflies at risk of extinction in European nations has increased from 37 to over sixty since the earlier research, performed a decade and a half ago. One type, the Madeiran large white butterfly (Pieris wollastoni) has now been confirmed extinct.
“Beyond their beauty and cultural significance, pollinating insects like bees and butterflies are essential supports for our well-being, our food chains and our economic systems – supporting the produce, vegetables and seeds that sustain us,” said the IUCN’s director general. “The most recent European red list assessments reveal significant difficulties, with risks increasing for butterfly species and essential native bee species.”
The reasons of the rapid recent declines are the continuing damage or destruction of living environments caused by agricultural intensification and abandoned land, wetland drainage, livestock overgrazing, and the utilization of chemical fertilisers and pesticides including neonicotinoid chemicals. The breaking up of pollinator-friendly habitat greatly increases the danger of local extinctions.
Climate change is also demonstrated to be a major threat: Fifty-two percent of all endangered butterfly types in the European continent are threatened by the climate emergency – about double the number as a ten years ago.
As many as ninety percent of blooming plants in Europe depend on animal pollination, as stated by the wild bee assessment’s lead coordinator. “Sadly, native bee groups are in severe drop and cannot be easily replaced by managed bee colonies,” he said. “If non-managed bees die out, many non-cultivated plants might be at risk too – of which bloom-filled grasslands and beautiful orchid species are just a couple of instances.”
15 varieties of bumblebee species, which play a crucial role in pollinating peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and 14 types of cellophane bee species, famous for aiding tree pollination such as willow trees and red maples, are now categorized as at-risk. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee type unique to the mainland and the single type of this biological genus in Europe, is now evaluated as critically at risk – the scientific category closest to disappearance in the wild.
Butterflies that are solely present on high-altitude areas are particularly vulnerable to climate change as they need to move uphill as their living spaces become warmer but ultimately have no room left. In the southern part of Spain, the Nevada grayling and the Andalusian anomalous blue butterfly are among more than 40% of European endemics (exclusive to Europe) threatened with extinction.
In the Mediterranean, species such as the critically endangered grayling of Karpathos are threatened by severe dry conditions and fires.
At the same time, in the Arctic Circle, climate change is resulting in the forest boundary to advance northwards by tens of metres each year, with bushes encroaching on bog and tundra. Hotter climates also mean reindeer can no more cross the ice to browse Arctic grasslands and prevent them from overgrowing. Eight types of butterflies are threatened with extinction in this region, including Freyja’s fritillary butterfly and the Arctic ringlet butterfly.
“The largest environment for all these pollinating insects is bloom-filled grassy areas and that is disappearing very fast throughout Europe because of all these elements,” stated Martin Warren. “The positive thing is that so many people care now and there’s a lot more understanding. Under the EU nature restoration legislation, all member countries have to reverse the decrease in pollinators by 2030, and they are going to have to initiate measures. There are landowners who are involved. It is hoped they can obtain the motivations that will help them on their way.”
According to Martin Warren, there is “readily achievable actions” in terms of action for pollinating insects which will not decrease agricultural output – and could improve it – such as growers creating flower-rich margins around their farmland.
Jessika Roswall, described the conservation status of native bees, butterflies and additional pollinators as “critical”.
“Prompt and unified steps is necessary to address this risk. Together with member states, the Commission of the European Union has established an EU-wide tracking system for pollinating insects based on the EU nature restoration law, which will help to track our advancement. Now, we need to focus on application and partnership with participating nations to protect our pollinating species,” she said.
The issuance of the evaluations of bees along with butterflies is subsequent to the initial Europe-wide study on hoverflies, a further essential group of pollinators. Issued in twenty-twenty-two, it showed that thirty-seven percent of all hoverfly types in European nations were at risk of extinction.
