The total of non-managed bee varieties in European nations facing disappearance has increased twofold during the previous ten-year period, and the total of at-risk butterfly types has nearly doubled.
This critical situation for essential pollinating insects was disclosed by research studies for the IUCN red list, which determined that at least over 170 bee types out of nearly two thousand were threatened with extinction in Europe.
The total of butterfly species threatened with extinction in European nations has increased from over thirty-five to 65 since the last study, conducted 14 years ago. One type, the large white of Madeira (Pieris wollastoni) has now been classified as extinct.
In addition to their beauty and cultural value, pollinating insects like bees along with butterflies are essential supports for our health, our food systems and our economies – supporting the fruits, vegetables and seeds that sustain us,” stated the IUCN’s director general. “The latest European red list evaluations reveal significant difficulties, with threats mounting for butterflies and vital non-managed bee types.”
The reasons of the swift recent drops are the ongoing harm or degradation of living environments caused by farming intensification and deserted farmland, wetland drainage, overgrazing by livestock, and the application of pesticides and fertilisers including neonicotinoids. The division of habitat friendly to pollinators greatly increases the risk of extinctions at local level.
Global heating is also shown to be a primary risk: 52% of all threatened butterfly species in European nations are endangered by the climate change crisis – roughly double the number as a ten years ago.
Nearly ninety percent of blooming plants in Europe require animal pollination, as per Dr Denis Michez. “Unfortunately, native bee populations are in drastic decline and cannot readily be substituted by managed colonies,” he said. “If native bees die out, many non-cultivated plants might be in danger as well – of which bloom-filled grasslands and lovely orchid types are just a handful of illustrations.”
Fifteen species of bumblebees, which play a crucial role in pollinating legumes like peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and 14 types of cellophane bee types, recognized for aiding tree pollination such as willows along with red maples, are now classified as threatened. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee found only in the European continent and the only species of this biological genus in European nations, is now assessed as critically at risk – the scientific category nearest to extinction in the wild.
Butterfly types that are only found on mountain tops are especially at risk to global warming as they need to move uphill as their environments become hotter but ultimately run out of space. In the southern part of Spain, the grayling of Nevada and the Andalusian anomalous blue are among above 40 percent of species endemic to Europe (only found in Europe) threatened with extinction.
In the Mediterranean area, varieties such as the highly at-risk Karpathos grayling are threatened by extreme wildfires and drought.
In the meantime, in the Far North, global warming is leading to the timberline to advance northwards by dozens of meters each year, with bushes encroaching on bog and tundra. Hotter climates also mean reindeer can not anymore cross the ice sheets to graze northern grasslands and keep them open. Eight types of butterflies are threatened with extinction in this region, including the fritillary of Freyja and the Arctic ringlet.
“The greatest living space for all these pollinating insects is bloom-filled grassy areas and that is declining quickly throughout Europe because of all these reasons,” stated Martin Warren. “The good news is that so many people are concerned now and there’s a lot more understanding. Under the EU nature restoration legislation, all member states have to halt the decrease in pollinating insects by twenty-thirty, and they are going to have to begin taking action. There are land holders who are engaged. We hope they can get the incentives that will assist them on their way.”
As per Martin Warren, there is “easy opportunities” in terms of measures for pollinating species which will not decrease agricultural output – and could improve it – such as farmers creating flower-rich margins around their fields.
the EU’s environment commissioner, characterized the protection status of non-managed bees, butterfly species and other pollinating insects as “dire”.
“Prompt and unified steps is necessary to tackle this danger. Together with participating nations, the EU Commission has established an Europe-wide monitoring system for pollinating insects based on the EU nature restoration law, which will help to track our advancement. Now, we need to concentrate on execution and cooperation with member countries to protect our pollinating species,” she said.
The release of the assessments on bees and butterflies follows the initial European-wide evaluation of hoverflies, an additional essential group of pollinators. Released in 2022, it revealed that 37% of all hoverfly types in the European continent were threatened with extinction.
