The number of non-managed bee varieties in European nations experiencing extinction has over doubled over the past decade, whereas the count of at-risk butterfly has close to doubled.
This critical situation for crucial pollinating species was disclosed by scientific assessments for the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) red list, which found that at least 172 bee varieties out of over 1900 were threatened with extinction in the European continent.
The number of butterflies threatened with extinction in European nations has grown from 37 to 65 since the previous assessment, conducted a decade and a half ago. One type, the large white of Madeira (Pieris wollastoni) has now been classified as extinct.
Apart from their aesthetic appeal and cultural significance, pollinating insects like bees and butterfly species are lifelines for our health, our food chains and our economies – maintaining the fruits, veggies and seeds that feed us,” stated the IUCN’s director general. “The most recent European red list assessments reveal serious challenges, with risks increasing for butterflies and crucial wild bee varieties.”
The causes of the rapid recent declines are the ongoing harm or degradation of natural habitats caused by agricultural intensification and land abandonment, draining of wetlands, livestock overgrazing, and the use of fertilisers and pesticides including neonicotinoid pesticides. The fragmentation of environments suitable for pollinators significantly raises the danger of extinctions at local level.
Global warming is also shown to be a primary risk: Fifty-two percent of all threatened butterfly types in the European continent are threatened by the climate emergency – about twice as many as a ten years ago.
Nearly 90% of blooming plants in the European continent require insect pollination, as stated by the lead coordinator of the wild bee assessment. “Unfortunately, native bee groups are in drastic decline and cannot be easily replaced by managed bee colonies,” he said. “If native bees vanish, many wild plants might be threatened too – of which bloom-filled grasslands and attractive orchid varieties are just a couple of instances.”
Fifteen types of bumblebees, which perform a vital function in fertilizing crops such as peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and 14 types of cellophane bee species, recognized for fertilizing trees such as willow trees and red maples, are now listed as threatened. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee unique to the European continent and the sole species of this genus in European nations, is now assessed as critically at risk – the scientific category most akin to dying out in natural habitats.
Butterfly types that are only found on high-altitude areas are especially at risk to global heating as they must ascend higher as their living spaces become hotter but ultimately run out of space. In Spain’s southern region, the Nevada grayling and the anomalous blue of Andalusia are among more than 40% of European endemics (exclusive to Europe) threatened with extinction.
In the Mediterranean region, varieties such as the highly at-risk Karpathos grayling butterfly are threatened by extreme drought and wildfires.
At the same time, in the Arctic Circle, climate change is resulting in the tree line to move north by dozens of meters each year, with scrub taking over marsh and tundra. Higher temperatures also mean caribou can not anymore cross the ice to browse Arctic grasslands and maintain them clear. 8 butterfly varieties are facing extinction in this area, including Freyja’s fritillary butterfly and the Arctic ringlet.
“The greatest environment for all these pollinators is bloom-filled grassy areas and that is vanishing rapidly in European nations because of all these elements,” stated Martin Warren. “The positive thing is that so many people are aware now and there’s a lot more consciousness. Under the EU’s nature restoration regulation, all member states have to turn around the decline in pollinating insects by 2030, and they are going to have to initiate measures. There are landowners who are engaged. It is hoped they can get the incentives that will help them on their way.”
According to Martin Warren, there is “low-hanging fruit” in terms of steps for pollinating insects which will not lower agricultural output – and might boost it – such as farmers developing margins rich in flowers around their farmland.
Jessika Roswall, characterized the protection status of native bees, butterflies and additional pollinators as “critical”.
“Prompt and unified steps is required to tackle this threat. Along with member states, the Commission of the European Union has established an European Union-wide monitoring system for pollinating insects based on the EU nature restoration law, which will help to track our development. Now, we need to prioritize execution and partnership with member states to safeguard our pollinating species,” she said.
The publication of the evaluations of bees along with butterflies comes after the first European-wide study on hoverflies, an additional essential group of pollinators. Published in 2022, it revealed that over one-third of all hoverfly varieties in European nations were threatened with extinction.
