The number of non-managed bee species in the European continent facing disappearance has over doubled in the last ten years, while the total of endangered butterfly species has almost doubled.
This dire scenario for essential pollinating insects was unveiled by scientific studies for the IUCN red list, which found that at least one hundred seventy-two bee species out of nearly two thousand were threatened with extinction in the European continent.
The number of butterfly species threatened with extinction in the European continent has increased from 37 to sixty-five since the previous assessment, conducted a decade and a half ago. One type, the large white of Madeira (Pieris wollastoni) has now been classified as extinct.
Apart from their visual charm and cultural significance, pollinating species like bees and butterflies are crucial elements for our health, our food systems and our financial structures – supporting the fruits, veggies and seeds that sustain us,” commented the IUCN’s director general. “The most recent European red list assessments reveal serious challenges, with risks increasing for butterfly types and essential wild bee types.”
The reasons of the quick recent decreases are the continuing damage or destruction of natural habitats caused by farming intensification and deserted farmland, draining wetlands, overgrazing by livestock, and the application of chemical fertilisers and pesticides including neonicotinoid chemicals. The breaking up of pollinator-friendly habitat greatly increases the threat of extinctions at local level.
Global warming is also demonstrated to be a major threat: 52% of all threatened butterflies in Europe are imperilled by the climate change crisis – roughly twice as many as a previous decade.
Up to ninety percent of flowering plants in Europe rely on insect pollination, according to the wild bee assessment’s lead coordinator. “Sadly, native bee colonies are in severe drop and cannot readily be substituted by domesticated hives,” he said. “If native bees disappear, many wild plants might be at risk too – of which meadows rich in flowers and beautiful orchid species are just a handful of illustrations.”
15 varieties of bumblebee species, which perform a vital function in fertilizing peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and 14 species of cellophane bee species, famous for pollinating trees such as willows and red maples, are now categorized as at-risk. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee species unique to the European continent and the single type of this genus in the European continent, is now classified as critically endangered – the scientific category nearest to disappearance in the wild.
Butterflies that are only found on mountain peaks are particularly vulnerable to global heating as they have to climb upward as their living spaces become warmer but in the end run out of space. In Spain’s southern region, the Nevada grayling butterfly and the Andalusian anomalous blue butterfly are among over forty percent of types unique to Europe (only found in Europe) at risk of extinction.
In the Mediterranean area, species such as the severely threatened Karpathos grayling are imperilled by intense dry conditions and fires.
At the same time, in the Far North, global heating is leading to the forest boundary to move north by tens of metres each year, with scrub invading marsh and tundra. Hotter climates also mean Arctic deer can not anymore cross the ice sheets to feed on Arctic grasslands and prevent them from overgrowing. 8 butterfly varieties are facing extinction in this region, including the fritillary of Freyja and the ringlet of the Arctic.
“The greatest living space for all these pollinating species is bloom-filled grassy areas and that is disappearing very fast across European nations because of all these elements,” said Martin Warren. “The encouraging aspect is that so many people are aware now and there’s a lot more consciousness. Under the EU nature restoration legislation, all member states have to reverse the decrease in pollinating species by the year 2030, and they are going to have to start doing something. There are land holders who are interested. We hope they can get the incentives that will assist them on their way.”
According to Warren, there is “readily achievable actions” in terms of measures for pollinators which will not lower crop yields – and might boost it – such as agricultural producers creating bloom-filled edges around their farmland.
the EU’s environment commissioner, characterized the conservation status of non-managed bees, butterfly species and other pollinating insects as “dire”.
“Urgent and collective action is required to confront this threat. Together with member countries, the EU Commission has established an Europe-wide monitoring system for pollinating species based on the EU nature restoration law, which will assist in monitoring our progress. Now, we need to prioritize application and collaboration with member states to safeguard our pollinators,” she said.
The issuance of the bee and butterfly assessments is subsequent to the first European-wide study on hoverflies, a further essential group of pollinators. Released in twenty-twenty-two, it showed that 37% of all hoverfly varieties in Europe were facing extinction.
