The total of native bee species in the European continent experiencing dying out has more than doubled in the last ten years, while the total of threatened butterfly species has close to doubled.
This critical situation for crucial pollinating insects was disclosed by research studies for the IUCN red list, which established that at least 172 bee varieties out of over 1900 were at risk of extinction in Europe.
The number of butterfly species threatened with extinction in the European continent has increased from thirty-seven to over sixty since the earlier research, performed over a decade past. One species, the large white of Madeira (Pieris wollastoni) has now been declared extinct.
Apart from their beauty and cultural significance, pollinating insects like bees along with butterflies are lifelines for our health, our food systems and our economies – sustaining the fruits, veggies and seeds that feed us,” commented the IUCN director general. “The most recent European red list assessments reveal major obstacles, with dangers mounting for butterfly types and crucial non-managed bee species.”
The causes of the rapid recent declines are the continuing damage or destruction of natural habitats caused by farming intensification and deserted farmland, draining of wetlands, overgrazing by livestock, and the use of fertilisers and pesticides including neonicotinoid chemicals. The fragmentation of pollinator-friendly habitat greatly increases the danger of local extinctions.
Global warming is also demonstrated to be a major threat: Fifty-two percent of all endangered butterfly species in Europe are imperilled by the climate change crisis – roughly twice as many as a ten years ago.
As many as nine out of ten of flowering plants in European nations depend on pollination by animals, according to Dr Denis Michez. “Regrettably, non-managed bee colonies are in severe drop and cannot readily be substituted by managed colonies,” he said. “If native bees die out, many non-cultivated plants might be at risk too – of which bloom-filled grasslands and beautiful orchid species are just a couple of instances.”
Fifteen types of bumblebee species, which play a crucial role in pollinating peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and 14 species of cellophane bees, famous for fertilizing trees such as willows and red maples, are now classified as threatened. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee found only in the European continent and the sole species of this biological genus in European nations, is now evaluated as critically endangered – the scientific category most akin to extinction in the wild.
Butterfly species that are exclusively located on mountain tops are particularly vulnerable to global heating as they must ascend higher as their living spaces become hotter but ultimately run out of space. In southern Spain, the grayling of Nevada and the Andalusian anomalous blue butterfly are among more than 40% of European endemics (solely present in Europe) facing extinction.
In the Mediterranean region, varieties such as the severely threatened Karpathos grayling butterfly are threatened by severe dry conditions and fires.
In the meantime, in the Arctic region, global warming is leading to the timberline to shift northward by tens of metres each year, with underbrush encroaching on bog and tundra. Hotter climates also mean Arctic deer can not anymore cross the frozen water to feed on northern grasslands and prevent them from overgrowing. Eight butterfly species are facing extinction in this area, including Freyja’s fritillary and the Arctic ringlet.
“The greatest habitat for all these pollinating species is flower-rich grassland and that is declining quickly across Europe because of all these reasons,” said Martin Warren. “The positive thing is that so many citizens care now and there’s a lot more consciousness. Under the European Union nature restoration law, all member countries have to halt the decline in pollinators by 2030, and they are going to have to start doing something. There are land holders who are interested. We hope they can obtain the encouragements that will help them on their way.”
As stated by Martin Warren, there is “readily achievable actions” in terms of action for pollinators which won’t reduce agricultural output – and might boost it – such as growers creating bloom-filled edges around their cultivated areas.
the EU’s environment commissioner, described the conservation status of native bees, butterflies and additional pollinators as “dire”.
“Immediate and joint measures is required to tackle this threat. Together with member states, the Commission of the European Union has established an EU-wide tracking system for pollinators based on the EU nature restoration regulation, which will assist in monitoring our advancement. Now, we need to focus on implementation and collaboration with participating nations to safeguard our pollinators,” she said.
The publication of the evaluations of bees along with butterflies comes after the pioneering EU-wide study on hoverflies, an additional vital pollinating insect category. Published in twenty-twenty-two, it revealed that thirty-seven percent of all hoverfly types in Europe were facing extinction.
