The total of non-managed bee varieties in Europe experiencing disappearance has increased twofold during the previous ten-year period, whereas the total of threatened butterfly types has close to doubled.
This pressing issue for essential pollinating insects was disclosed by research studies for the IUCN red list, which established that at least over 170 bee species out of 1,928 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 over sixty since the previous assessment, carried out 14 years ago. One species, the Madeiran large white butterfly (Pieris wollastoni) has now been declared extinct.
Apart from their aesthetic appeal and cultural significance, pollinators like bees and butterfly species are crucial elements for our well-being, our food chains and our economies – supporting the fruits, vegetables and seeds that nourish us,” stated the IUCN’s director general. “The most recent European red list evaluations reveal major obstacles, with threats growing for butterfly types and essential wild bee species.”
The causes of the quick recent decreases are the persistent damage or destruction of habitats caused by farming intensification and land abandonment, draining wetlands, overgrazing by livestock, and the use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides including neonicotinoids. The breaking up of pollinator-friendly habitat greatly increases the threat of local extinctions.
Global warming is also revealed to be a primary risk: Over half of all endangered butterflies in the European continent are threatened by the climate change crisis – approximately twofold the amount as a decade ago.
Nearly nine out of ten of flowering plants in the European continent depend on pollination by animals, as stated by the lead coordinator of the wild bee assessment. “Regrettably, wild bee groups are in severe drop and cannot readily be substituted by domesticated hives,” he said. “If native bees vanish, many wild plants might be in danger as well – of which bloom-filled grasslands and attractive orchid varieties are just a couple of instances.”
Fifteen types of bumblebee species, which perform a vital function in aiding the pollination of peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and 14 species of cellophane bees, recognized for pollinating trees such as willows along with red maples, are now classified as threatened. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee type unique to the mainland and the only species of this genus in the European continent, is now evaluated as critically at risk – the research category nearest to disappearance in the wild.
Butterflies that are solely present on high-altitude areas are especially at risk to global heating as they have to climb upward as their living spaces become more heated but in the end have no room left. In Spain’s southern region, the grayling of Nevada and the Andalusian anomalous blue butterfly are among above 40 percent of species endemic to Europe (solely present in Europe) facing extinction.
In the Mediterranean region, species such as the highly at-risk grayling of Karpathos are endangered by intense wildfires and drought.
At the same time, in the Arctic region, global heating is resulting in the tree line to shift northward by dozens of meters each year, with bushes invading bog and tundra. Higher temperatures also mean Arctic deer can no more cross the ice sheets to feed on Arctic meadows and prevent them from overgrowing. Eight types of butterflies are facing extinction in this area, including Freyja’s fritillary butterfly and the Arctic ringlet butterfly.
“The greatest habitat for all these pollinators is grassland rich in flowers and that is disappearing very fast throughout Europe because of all these elements,” remarked Martin Warren. “The positive thing is that so many people are concerned now and there’s a lot more consciousness. Under the EU nature restoration legislation, all participating nations have to halt the decline in pollinating insects by the year 2030, and they are going to have to begin taking action. There are property owners who are involved. Let’s hope they can receive the incentives that will support them on their way.”
As stated by Martin Warren, there is “easy opportunities” in terms of measures for pollinating insects which won’t reduce agricultural output – and may enhance it – such as growers developing margins rich in flowers around their cultivated areas.
the EU’s environment commissioner, described the protection status of non-managed bees, butterfly species and other pollinating insects as “severe”.
“Prompt and unified steps is needed to tackle this threat. Together with member countries, the Commission of the European Union has put in place an EU-wide tracking system for pollinating species based on the EU nature restoration law, which will help to track our advancement. Now, we need to prioritize implementation and partnership with member countries to safeguard our pollinating species,” she said.
The publication of the assessments on bees and butterflies follows the initial European-wide evaluation of hoverflies, another crucial pollinating insect category. Issued in twenty-twenty-two, it disclosed that 37% of all hoverfly species in European nations were facing extinction.
