The count of native bee types in Europe confronting extinction has increased twofold over the past decade, and the number of threatened butterfly has nearly doubled.
This pressing issue for essential pollinators was revealed by scientific studies for the red list of threatened species, which established that at least 172 bee varieties out of over 1900 were facing extinction in the European continent.
The total of butterfly types facing extinction in European nations has increased from over thirty-five to over sixty since the earlier research, conducted 14 years ago. A single species, the Madeiran large white butterfly (Pieris wollastoni) has now been classified as extinct.
“Beyond their beauty and cultural significance, pollinators like bees and butterfly species are lifelines for our health, our food systems and our economies – supporting the fruits, vegetables and seeds that feed us,” said Grethel Aguilar. “The most recent European red list assessments reveal significant difficulties, with threats increasing for butterflies and crucial non-managed bee species.”
The factors of the swift recent drops are the persistent destruction or damage of habitats caused by agricultural intensification and deserted farmland, wetland drainage, overgrazing by livestock, and the use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides including neonicotinoids. The fragmentation of pollinator-friendly habitat substantially boosts the threat of disappearances in specific areas.
Global warming is also shown to be a primary risk: Fifty-two percent of all at-risk butterflies in European nations are endangered by the climate change crisis – roughly double the number as a decade ago.
Nearly nine out of ten of blooming plants in European nations require pollination by animals, as per Dr Denis Michez. “Regrettably, non-managed bee groups are in sharp decrease and cannot readily be substituted by managed bee colonies,” he said. “If native bees vanish, many wild plants might be in danger as well – of which flower-rich meadows and beautiful orchid species are just a couple of instances.”
15 varieties of bumblebee types, which perform a vital function in fertilizing peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and 14 species of cellophane bee species, recognized for aiding tree pollination such as willows and red maples, are now listed as threatened. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee species unique to the continent and the only species of this genus group in Europe, is now evaluated as critically at risk – the scientific classification closest to disappearance in the wild.
Butterflies that are exclusively located on mountain tops are particularly vulnerable to climate change as they must ascend higher as their habitats become hotter but in the end have no room left. In southern Spain, the grayling of Nevada and the Andalusian anomalous blue butterfly are among more than 40% of European endemics (only found in Europe) facing extinction.
In the Mediterranean, species such as the highly at-risk grayling of Karpathos are imperilled by intense drought and wildfires.
In the meantime, in the Far North, climate change is causing the tree line to move north by many meters each year, with underbrush taking over marsh and tundra. Hotter climates also mean caribou can no longer cross the frozen water to feed on Arctic meadows and keep them open. 8 butterfly varieties are at risk of extinction in this region, including Freyja’s fritillary butterfly and the ringlet of the Arctic.
“The biggest living space for all these pollinating species is bloom-filled grassy areas and that is disappearing very fast in European nations because of all these factors,” said one of the lead coordinators of the butterflies assessment. “The positive thing is that so many citizens are aware now and there’s a lot more awareness. Under the EU’s nature restoration regulation, all member countries have to reverse the drop in pollinators by twenty-thirty, and they are going to have to begin taking action. There are landowners who are involved. Let’s hope they can obtain the motivations that will support them on their way.”
As per the coordinator, there is “low-hanging fruit” in terms of measures for pollinating species which will not lower crop yields – and might boost it – such as growers creating flower-rich margins around their farmland.
EU commissioner for environment, described the conservation status of non-managed bees, butterfly species and other pollinating insects as “critical”.
“Immediate and joint measures is necessary to address this risk. Along with member countries, the European Commission has implemented an EU-wide tracking system for pollinating insects based on the European Union nature restoration legislation, which will aid in following our advancement. Now, we need to focus on execution and partnership with participating nations to protect our pollinators,” she said.
The release of the assessments on bees and butterflies comes after the initial EU-wide assessment of hoverflies, a further crucial group of pollinators. Published in 2022, it disclosed that thirty-seven percent of all hoverfly varieties in Europe were facing extinction.
