The count of native bee varieties in Europe experiencing dying out has over doubled during the previous ten-year period, whereas the total of threatened butterfly types has almost doubled.
This dire scenario for essential pollinators was disclosed by scientific assessments for the red list of threatened species, which established that at least one hundred seventy-two bee types out of 1,928 were at risk of extinction in Europe.
The number of butterfly species facing extinction in the European continent has risen from thirty-seven to 65 since the last study, carried out over a decade past. One species, the Madeiran large white (Pieris wollastoni) has now been classified as extinct.
In addition to their beauty and cultural value, pollinating species like bees and butterflies are lifelines for our well-being, our food supplies and our financial structures – sustaining the fruits, veggies and seeds that sustain us,” commented Grethel Aguilar. “The latest European red list assessments reveal serious challenges, with risks increasing for butterfly types and crucial non-managed bee varieties.”
The factors of the swift recent drops are the persistent harm or degradation of living environments caused by farming intensification and abandoned land, draining of wetlands, overgrazing by livestock, and the use of fertilisers and pesticides including neonicotinoids. The breaking up of environments suitable for pollinators greatly increases the risk of local extinctions.
Global warming is also demonstrated to be a primary risk: Fifty-two percent of all at-risk butterflies in Europe are imperilled by the climate change crisis – approximately double the number as a decade ago.
Nearly 90% of flowering plants in the European continent depend on insect pollination, as stated by the wild bee assessment’s lead coordinator. “Unfortunately, native bee populations are in sharp decrease and cannot be easily replaced by domesticated hives,” he said. “If native bees die out, many non-cultivated plants might be in danger as well – of which bloom-filled grasslands and attractive orchid varieties are just a handful of illustrations.”
Fifteen types of bumblebees, which play a crucial role in aiding the pollination of legumes like peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and 14 types of cellophane bee species, known for aiding tree pollination such as willows and red maples, are now listed as threatened. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee species unique to the mainland and the only species of this genus in the European continent, is now assessed as severely threatened – the research category nearest to disappearance in the wild.
Butterfly types that are exclusively located on mountain peaks are especially at risk to global heating as they must ascend higher as their environments become hotter but eventually have no room left. In Spain’s southern region, the Nevada grayling and the anomalous blue of Andalusia are among more than 40% of European endemics (only found in Europe) at risk of extinction.
In the Mediterranean area, species such as the severely threatened Karpathos grayling are imperilled by severe wildfires and drought.
At the same time, in the Arctic region, global warming is leading to the tree line to move north by tens of metres each year, with scrub taking over wetlands and tundra. Higher temperatures also mean reindeer can no longer cross the ice sheets to browse Arctic grasslands and keep them open. Eight types of butterflies are at risk of extinction in this region, including the fritillary of Freyja and the Arctic ringlet butterfly.
“The biggest living space for all these pollinating species is bloom-filled grassy areas and that is declining quickly in the European continent because of all these elements,” remarked Martin Warren. “The positive thing is that so many individuals are aware now and there’s a lot more understanding. Under the European Union nature restoration law, all member states have to halt the drop in pollinating insects by 2030, and they are going to have to begin taking action. There are property owners who are engaged. It is hoped they can receive the encouragements that will help them on their way.”
As stated by Warren, there is “readily achievable actions” in terms of measures for pollinating species which will not lower food production – and may enhance it – such as agricultural producers developing margins rich in flowers around their fields.
EU commissioner for environment, portrayed the conservation status of native bees, butterflies and additional pollinators as “dire”.
“Immediate and joint measures is needed to address this risk. In collaboration with member countries, the European Commission has implemented an Europe-wide tracking system for pollinating species based on the European Union nature restoration legislation, which will help to track our advancement. Now, we need to concentrate on application and collaboration with member states to safeguard our pollinating species,” she said.
The issuance of the bee and butterfly assessments is subsequent to the pioneering EU-wide assessment of hoverflies, another crucial pollinating insect category. Released in 2022, it revealed that thirty-seven percent of all hoverfly varieties in the European continent were threatened with extinction.
