The total of native bee species in European nations experiencing extinction has increased twofold over the past decade, while the number of endangered butterfly types has nearly doubled.
This critical situation for essential pollinating species was disclosed by research studies for the IUCN red list, which established that at least one hundred seventy-two bee types out of nearly two thousand were facing extinction in the European continent.
The count of butterfly species at risk of extinction in the European continent has increased from 37 to 65 since the previous assessment, performed over a decade past. One species, the large white of Madeira (Pieris wollastoni) has now been classified as extinct.
In addition to their aesthetic appeal and cultural significance, pollinators like bees along with butterflies are lifelines for our well-being, our food supplies and our financial structures – supporting the fruits, veggies and seeds that nourish us,” stated Grethel Aguilar. “The newest European red list evaluations reveal major obstacles, with threats growing for butterfly species and crucial non-managed bee types.”
The causes of the quick recent decreases are the persistent destruction or damage of living environments caused by agricultural intensification and land abandonment, wetland drainage, overgrazing by livestock, and the use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides including neonicotinoid pesticides. The fragmentation of pollinator-friendly habitat significantly raises the threat of disappearances in specific areas.
Climate change is also shown to be a primary risk: Over half of all endangered butterfly species in the European continent are endangered by the climate change crisis – roughly twice as many as a previous decade.
Up to nine out of ten of plants that flower in Europe rely on animal pollination, as per the wild bee assessment’s lead coordinator. “Sadly, native bee colonies are in severe drop and are not easily replaceable by managed bee colonies,” he said. “If native bees disappear, many wild plants might be threatened too – of which meadows rich in flowers and beautiful orchid species are just a couple of instances.”
Fifteen types of bumblebee species, which play a crucial role in aiding the pollination of legumes like peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and 14 types of cellophane bees, known for fertilizing trees such as willows and red maples, are now classified as threatened. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee species unique to the continent and the only species of this genus in European nations, is now assessed as severely threatened – the scientific classification nearest to disappearance in the wild.
Butterfly species that are only found on mountain tops are especially at risk to climate change as they need to move uphill as their living spaces become more heated but in the end exhaust available space. In Spain’s southern region, the Nevada grayling and the Andalusian anomalous blue are among more than 40% of types unique to Europe (solely present in Europe) at risk of extinction.
In the Mediterranean, species such as the critically endangered grayling of Karpathos are imperilled by severe wildfires and drought.
At the same time, in the Arctic region, climate change is causing the forest boundary to advance northwards by many meters each year, with bushes invading marsh and tundra. Warmer conditions also mean caribou can not anymore cross the frozen water to feed on northern grasslands and prevent them from overgrowing. Eight butterfly species are at risk of extinction in this region, including Freyja’s fritillary and the Arctic ringlet.
“The greatest habitat for all these pollinators is bloom-filled grassy areas and that is declining quickly throughout the European continent because of all these reasons,” stated one of the lead coordinators of the butterflies assessment. “The positive thing is that so many people are aware now and there’s a lot more consciousness. Under the European Union nature restoration law, all member states have to halt the decrease in pollinating species by 2030, and they are going to have to initiate measures. There are property owners who are involved. It is hoped they can obtain the incentives that will help them on their way.”
As stated by the coordinator, there is “readily achievable actions” in terms of action for pollinators which will not decrease food production – and might boost it – such as agricultural producers establishing bloom-filled edges around their farmland.
EU commissioner for environment, characterized the protection status of wild bees, butterflies and other pollinators as “severe”.
“Prompt and unified steps is required to confront this risk. Together with member countries, the EU Commission has established an European Union-wide tracking system for pollinators based on the EU nature restoration law, which will assist in monitoring our advancement. Now, we need to prioritize implementation and cooperation with participating nations to safeguard our pollinating species,” she said.
The publication of the evaluations of bees along with butterflies is subsequent to the initial EU-wide study on hoverflies, an additional vital group of pollinators. Released in 2022, it disclosed that over one-third of all hoverfly types in European nations were threatened with extinction.
