The count of native bee varieties in European nations confronting disappearance has over doubled in the last ten years, whereas the count of endangered butterfly has nearly doubled.
This dire scenario for vital pollinating insects was unveiled by scientific studies for the red list of threatened species, which established that at least over 170 bee types out of 1,928 were facing extinction in the European continent.
The number of butterfly types threatened with extinction in the European continent has risen from 37 to 65 since the earlier research, conducted over a decade past. One type, the large white of Madeira (Pieris wollastoni) has now been confirmed extinct.
“Beyond their visual charm and cultural significance, pollinators like bees and butterfly species are crucial elements for our well-being, our food systems and our financial structures – maintaining the produce, vegetables and seeds that nourish us,” stated Grethel Aguilar. “The most recent European red list assessments reveal serious challenges, with threats increasing for butterfly types and essential non-managed bee types.”
The factors of the swift recent drops are the continuing destruction or damage of living environments caused by intensive agriculture and deserted farmland, draining of wetlands, overgrazing by livestock, and the use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides including neonicotinoid pesticides. The fragmentation of pollinator-friendly habitat substantially boosts the threat of extinctions at local level.
Global warming is also revealed to be a significant danger: Fifty-two percent of all at-risk butterfly types in European nations are endangered by the climate change crisis – approximately twofold the amount as a decade ago.
Up to ninety percent of plants that flower in the European continent require animal pollination, as per Dr Denis Michez. “Sadly, native bee colonies are in sharp decrease and cannot readily be substituted by managed colonies,” he said. “If non-managed bees disappear, many native plants might be threatened too – of which meadows rich in flowers and attractive orchid varieties are just a few examples.”
Fifteen species of bumblebees, which perform a vital function in aiding the pollination of crops such as peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and 14 species of cellophane bee types, known for pollinating trees such as willows and red maples, are now categorized as at-risk. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee exclusive to the continent and the single type of this genus group in Europe, is now evaluated as severely threatened – the research category most akin to dying out in natural habitats.
Butterfly species that are only found on high-altitude areas are especially at risk to global heating as they need to move uphill as their environments become more heated but in the end have no room left. In southern Spain, the Nevada grayling butterfly and the Andalusian anomalous blue are among above 40 percent of types unique to Europe (solely present in Europe) facing extinction.
In the Mediterranean area, types such as the severely threatened grayling of Karpathos are endangered by severe wildfires and drought.
At the same time, in the Arctic Circle, global heating is causing the timberline to move north by tens of metres each year, with bushes taking over wetlands and tundra. Higher temperatures also mean Arctic deer can no longer cross the frozen water to browse Arctic meadows and keep them open. Eight butterfly species are facing extinction in this area, including Freyja’s fritillary butterfly and the ringlet of the Arctic.
“The largest habitat for all these pollinating species is bloom-filled grassy areas and that is declining quickly across the European continent because of all these elements,” stated Martin Warren. “The encouraging aspect is that so many citizens care now and there’s a lot more consciousness. Under the EU’s nature restoration regulation, all member countries have to turn around the drop in pollinating species by the year 2030, and they are going to have to start doing something. There are property owners who are interested. Let’s hope they can receive the incentives that will help them on their way.”
According to Martin Warren, there is “easy opportunities” in terms of action for pollinating insects which won’t reduce crop yields – and could improve it – such as growers developing bloom-filled edges around their cultivated areas.
the EU’s environment commissioner, described the protection status of wild bees, butterflies and other pollinators as “severe”.
“Immediate and joint measures is needed to tackle this risk. Along with participating nations, the European Commission has established an EU-wide tracking system for pollinating insects based on the European Union nature restoration legislation, which will help to track our development. Now, we need to concentrate on execution and cooperation with member states to preserve our pollinators,” she said.
The release of the assessments on bees and butterflies follows the first European-wide assessment of hoverflies, an additional crucial pollinator group. Published in 2022, it showed that over one-third of all hoverfly species in the European continent were facing extinction.
