The total of native bee varieties in the European continent experiencing extinction has increased twofold over the past decade, while the total of endangered butterfly types has almost doubled.
This critical situation for vital pollinating species was revealed by research studies for the red list of threatened species, which determined that at least 172 bee varieties out of 1,928 were at risk of extinction in European nations.
The count of butterflies facing extinction in Europe has increased from 37 to 65 since the previous assessment, conducted a decade and a half ago. One species, the Madeiran large white butterfly (Pieris wollastoni) has now been declared extinct.
Apart from their aesthetic appeal and cultural value, pollinators like bees and butterflies are lifelines for our physical condition, our food supplies and our economies – supporting the fruits, vegetables and seeds that sustain us,” said Grethel Aguilar. “The latest assessments of the European red list reveal major obstacles, with risks mounting for butterfly species and crucial native bee varieties.”
The factors of the rapid recent declines are the persistent harm or degradation of living environments caused by intensive agriculture and abandoned land, draining of wetlands, excessive grazing by animals, and the application of pesticides and fertilisers including neonicotinoids. The fragmentation of habitat friendly to pollinators substantially boosts the threat of disappearances in specific areas.
Climate change is also shown to be a major threat: Over half of all threatened butterflies in Europe are imperilled by the climate change crisis – roughly twofold the amount as a decade ago.
As many as 90% of flowering plants in Europe rely on insect pollination, as per the lead coordinator of the wild bee assessment. “Sadly, native bee colonies are in drastic decline and cannot be easily replaced by managed bee colonies,” he said. “If native bees disappear, many non-cultivated plants might be threatened too – of which flower-rich meadows and beautiful orchid species are just a handful of illustrations.”
15 varieties of bumblebee species, which perform a vital function in aiding the pollination of legumes like peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and fourteen varieties of cellophane bees, recognized for aiding tree pollination such as willows along with red maples, are now categorized as at-risk. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee type unique to the continent and the sole species of this biological genus in the European continent, is now evaluated as critically at risk – the research category nearest to disappearance in the wild.
Butterfly types that are only found on high-altitude areas are highly susceptible to climate change as they must ascend higher as their living spaces become hotter but ultimately have no room left. In the southern part of Spain, the Nevada grayling and the Andalusian anomalous blue are among more than 40% of types unique to Europe (exclusive to Europe) at risk of extinction.
In the Mediterranean area, varieties such as the severely threatened Karpathos grayling butterfly are endangered by severe dry conditions and fires.
Meanwhile, in the Far North, climate change is leading to the timberline to shift northward by tens of metres each year, with scrub encroaching on bog and tundra. Higher temperatures also mean reindeer can no more cross the frozen water to feed on northern grasslands and prevent them from overgrowing. Eight types of butterflies are threatened with extinction in this area, including the fritillary of Freyja and the Arctic ringlet butterfly.
“The greatest habitat for all these pollinators is bloom-filled grassy areas and that is disappearing very fast throughout Europe because of all these reasons,” stated one of the lead coordinators of the butterflies assessment. “The positive thing is that so many citizens are concerned now and there’s a lot more consciousness. Under the EU nature restoration legislation, all member states have to turn around the decline in pollinating species by twenty-thirty, and they are going to have to begin taking action. There are landowners who are engaged. We hope they can receive the incentives that will assist them on their way.”
As per Warren, there is “easy opportunities” in terms of steps for pollinators which won’t reduce crop yields – and may enhance it – such as farmers creating bloom-filled edges around their fields.
Jessika Roswall, described the protection status of native bees, butterflies and additional pollinators as “critical”.
“Urgent and collective action is necessary to address this danger. Along with member countries, the Commission of the European Union has implemented an Europe-wide observation system for pollinating species based on the EU nature restoration regulation, which will help to track our progress. Now, we need to concentrate on implementation and partnership with member countries to safeguard our pollinating insects,” she said.
The release of the evaluations of bees along with butterflies comes after the pioneering European-wide assessment of hoverflies, a further essential group of pollinators. Released in twenty-twenty-two, it revealed that 37% of all hoverfly types in the European continent were at risk of extinction.
