The number of wild bee types in European nations experiencing dying out has more than doubled over the past decade, and the number of threatened butterfly has close to doubled.
This pressing issue for crucial pollinating species was unveiled by scientific studies for the IUCN red list, which found that at least 172 bee types out of nearly two thousand were at risk of extinction in the European continent.
The number of butterflies facing extinction in the European continent has increased from 37 to over sixty since the last study, conducted over a decade past. One species, the Madeiran large white butterfly (Pieris wollastoni) has now been classified as extinct.
“Beyond their beauty and cultural importance, pollinators like bees along with butterflies are crucial elements for our health, our food systems and our economic systems – maintaining the produce, vegetables and seeds that feed us,” said the IUCN director general. “The latest European red list assessments reveal significant difficulties, with dangers growing for butterfly species and vital wild bee species.”
The factors of the rapid recent declines are the continuing damage or destruction of natural habitats caused by agricultural intensification and abandoned land, draining of wetlands, livestock overgrazing, and the application of fertilisers and pesticides including neonicotinoids. The division of habitat friendly to pollinators greatly increases the threat of extinctions at local level.
Global heating is also demonstrated to be a primary risk: Fifty-two percent of all endangered butterfly species in European nations are threatened by the climate emergency – roughly double the number as a previous decade.
Nearly ninety percent of plants that flower in European nations depend on insect pollination, as stated by the wild bee assessment’s lead coordinator. “Sadly, wild bee populations are in severe drop and are not easily replaceable by domesticated hives,” he said. “If native bees disappear, many wild plants might be at risk too – of which bloom-filled grasslands and beautiful orchid species are just a handful of illustrations.”
Fifteen species of bumblebee types, which play a crucial role in aiding the pollination of peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and 14 types of cellophane bee types, famous for aiding tree pollination such as willow trees and red maples, are now listed as threatened. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee type unique to the European continent and the single type of this genus in European nations, is now classified as severely threatened – the scientific category most akin to disappearance in the wild.
Butterflies that are only found on mountain peaks are particularly vulnerable to climate change as they have to climb upward as their habitats become more heated but in the end exhaust available space. In Spain’s southern region, the Nevada grayling butterfly and the Andalusian anomalous blue butterfly are among more than 40% of species endemic to Europe (exclusive to Europe) facing extinction.
In the Mediterranean, varieties such as the highly at-risk Karpathos grayling butterfly are endangered by intense wildfires and drought.
Meanwhile, in the Arctic Circle, climate change is resulting in the forest boundary to advance northwards by tens of metres each year, with bushes invading bog and tundra. Higher temperatures also mean Arctic deer can no longer cross the ice to browse Arctic meadows and keep them open. Eight butterfly species are at risk of extinction in this area, including Freyja’s fritillary butterfly and the ringlet of the Arctic.
“The greatest habitat for all these pollinating insects is flower-rich grassland and that is declining quickly across European nations because of all these factors,” stated a lead coordinator for the butterfly assessment. “The positive thing is that so many individuals are aware now and there’s a lot more consciousness. Under the European Union nature restoration law, all participating nations have to halt the decline in pollinating insects by twenty-thirty, and they are going to have to initiate measures. There are land holders who are interested. It is hoped they can obtain the encouragements that will assist them on their way.”
According to the coordinator, there is “low-hanging fruit” in terms of measures for pollinators which will not decrease agricultural output – and may enhance it – such as agricultural producers developing margins rich in flowers around their farmland.
EU commissioner for environment, described the preservation condition of native bees, butterflies and additional pollinators as “severe”.
“Urgent and collective action is necessary to confront this risk. Along with member countries, the EU Commission has established an EU-wide observation system for pollinating insects based on the EU nature restoration law, which will aid in following our advancement. Now, we need to prioritize implementation and collaboration with member countries to safeguard our pollinating insects,” she said.
The publication of the bee and butterfly assessments comes after the pioneering EU-wide study on hoverflies, a further essential group of pollinators. Released in twenty-twenty-two, it disclosed that 37% of all hoverfly types in the European continent were at risk of extinction.
