The number of non-managed bee types in European nations confronting disappearance has over doubled during the previous ten-year period, while the count of threatened butterfly has nearly doubled.
This pressing issue for essential pollinators was disclosed by scientific assessments for the IUCN red list, which determined that at least over 170 bee species out of 1,928 were facing extinction in the European continent.
The total of butterfly species threatened with extinction in European nations has increased from thirty-seven to sixty-five since the last study, conducted 14 years ago. One type, the Madeiran large white (Pieris wollastoni) has now been classified as extinct.
In addition to their aesthetic appeal and cultural value, 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,” commented Grethel Aguilar. “The latest European red list assessments reveal serious challenges, with threats mounting for butterfly species and crucial non-managed bee species.”
The factors of the swift recent drops are the continuing harm or degradation of habitats caused by intensive agriculture and abandoned land, draining wetlands, livestock overgrazing, and the application of pesticides and fertilisers including neonicotinoid chemicals. The fragmentation of habitat friendly to pollinators greatly increases the threat of disappearances in specific areas.
Climate change is also demonstrated to be a major threat: Fifty-two percent of all threatened butterfly species in European nations are imperilled by the climate crisis – about double the number as a previous decade.
Nearly 90% of flowering plants in Europe depend on animal pollination, according to the lead coordinator of the wild bee assessment. “Sadly, native bee colonies are in drastic decline and cannot readily be substituted by managed colonies,” he said. “If wild bees vanish, many wild plants might be in danger as well – of which bloom-filled grasslands and attractive orchid varieties are just a couple of instances.”
Fifteen types of bumblebees, which have an essential part in fertilizing legumes like peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and 14 species of cellophane bees, known for pollinating trees such as willows and red maples, are now listed as threatened. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee type exclusive to the continent and the only species of this genus group in the European continent, is now assessed as severely threatened – the scientific category most akin to extinction in the wild.
Butterfly species that are only found on mountain tops are particularly vulnerable to climate change as they need to move uphill as their living spaces become hotter but ultimately have no room left. In southern Spain, the grayling of Nevada and the Andalusian anomalous blue are among above 40 percent of European endemics (solely present in Europe) facing extinction.
In the Mediterranean, varieties such as the critically endangered grayling of Karpathos are endangered by intense dry conditions and fires.
Meanwhile, in the Arctic region, global heating is leading to the forest boundary to advance northwards by tens of metres each year, with scrub taking over wetlands and tundra. Hotter climates also mean Arctic deer can no longer cross the ice to graze Arctic meadows and keep them open. Eight butterfly species are threatened with extinction in this region, including Freyja’s fritillary butterfly and the Arctic ringlet butterfly.
“The greatest habitat for all these pollinators is grassland rich in flowers and that is disappearing very fast across European nations because of all these elements,” stated one of the lead coordinators of the butterflies assessment. “The encouraging aspect is that so many people are concerned now and there’s a lot more awareness. Under the EU nature restoration legislation, all participating nations have to halt the drop in pollinating species by twenty-thirty, and they are going to have to begin taking action. There are property owners who are interested. Let’s hope they can receive the motivations that will help them on their way.”
As stated by the coordinator, there is “easy opportunities” in terms of measures for pollinating species which won’t reduce agricultural output – and could improve it – such as agricultural producers establishing flower-rich margins around their farmland.
EU commissioner for environment, portrayed the conservation status of wild bees, butterflies and other pollinators as “severe”.
“Immediate and joint measures is necessary to tackle this risk. Along with member countries, the European Commission has established an Europe-wide monitoring system for pollinating insects based on the European Union nature restoration legislation, which will aid in following our development. Now, we need to focus on implementation and collaboration with member countries to safeguard our pollinating species,” she said.
The publication of the bee and butterfly assessments comes after the first Europe-wide evaluation of hoverflies, a further vital group of pollinators. Released in 2022, it showed that 37% of all hoverfly types in Europe were threatened with extinction.
