The number of wild bee species in Europe facing disappearance has over doubled during the previous ten-year period, whereas the number of threatened butterfly types has close to doubled.
This dire scenario for vital pollinating insects was revealed by research studies for the red list of threatened species, which found that at least 172 bee varieties out of 1,928 were facing extinction in European nations.
The number of butterfly types at risk of extinction in European nations has increased from 37 to over sixty since the last study, carried out over a decade past. A single species, the Madeiran large white butterfly (Pieris wollastoni) has now been declared extinct.
In addition to their visual charm and cultural importance, pollinating species like bees along with butterflies are essential supports for our physical condition, our food supplies and our economic systems – supporting the fruits, veggies and seeds that feed us,” stated Grethel Aguilar. “The newest assessments of the European red list reveal major obstacles, with dangers increasing for butterflies and vital non-managed bee species.”
The causes of the rapid recent declines are the ongoing damage or destruction of habitats caused by farming intensification and abandoned land, draining of wetlands, excessive grazing by animals, and the utilization of pesticides and fertilisers including neonicotinoid pesticides. The fragmentation of environments suitable for pollinators greatly increases the risk of disappearances in specific areas.
Global heating is also shown to be a primary risk: 52% of all threatened butterfly species in European nations are imperilled by the climate emergency – about twofold the amount as a decade ago.
Nearly 90% of plants that flower in Europe require pollination by animals, according to Dr Denis Michez. “Regrettably, non-managed bee groups are in drastic decline and cannot readily be substituted by managed colonies,” he said. “If wild bees die out, many native plants might be at risk too – of which flower-rich meadows and lovely orchid types are just a handful of illustrations.”
Fifteen species of bumblebees, which have an essential part in pollinating legumes like peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and 14 types of cellophane bees, famous for aiding tree pollination such as willow trees and red maples, are now classified as threatened. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee type unique to the continent and the sole species of this genus in European nations, is now assessed as critically endangered – the scientific category most akin to extinction in the wild.
Butterfly species that are exclusively located on mountain peaks are highly susceptible to global warming as they must ascend higher as their habitats become warmer but ultimately exhaust available space. In the southern part of Spain, the Nevada grayling butterfly and the Andalusian anomalous blue are among more than 40% of types unique to Europe (exclusive to Europe) facing extinction.
In the Mediterranean, varieties such as the highly at-risk grayling of Karpathos are imperilled by extreme drought and wildfires.
In the meantime, in the Arctic region, global warming is causing the timberline to move north by many meters each year, with scrub invading wetlands and tundra. Hotter climates also mean reindeer can no more cross the ice to graze Arctic grasslands and prevent them from overgrowing. Eight butterfly species are threatened with extinction in this zone, including Freyja’s fritillary butterfly and the ringlet of the Arctic.
“The largest environment for all these pollinating insects is flower-rich grassland and that is disappearing very fast in European nations because of all these factors,” stated a lead coordinator for the butterfly assessment. “The good news is that so many individuals care now and there’s a lot more consciousness. Under the EU’s nature restoration regulation, all member states have to turn around the decrease in pollinating insects by the year 2030, and they are going to have to start doing something. There are land holders who are interested. Let’s hope they can get the incentives that will assist them on their way.”
As per Warren, there is “easy opportunities” in terms of measures for pollinating insects which won’t reduce food production – and may enhance it – such as farmers developing flower-rich margins around their cultivated areas.
Jessika Roswall, portrayed the protection status of non-managed bees, butterfly species and other pollinating insects as “dire”.
“Urgent and collective action is required to confront this threat. In collaboration with member states, the Commission of the European Union has implemented an Europe-wide tracking system for pollinating species based on the EU nature restoration regulation, which will help to track our progress. Now, we need to focus on application and cooperation with member countries to preserve our pollinators,” she said.
The release of the bee and butterfly assessments follows the initial Europe-wide evaluation of hoverflies, another vital pollinating insect category. Released in 2022, it revealed that thirty-seven percent of all hoverfly varieties in European nations were threatened with extinction.
