The total of native bee varieties in the European continent experiencing extinction has more than doubled over the past decade, and the number of endangered butterfly species has nearly doubled.
This dire scenario for essential pollinating insects was unveiled by scientific studies for the IUCN red list, which determined that at least over 170 bee varieties out of over 1900 were threatened with extinction in Europe.
The count of butterflies at risk of extinction in European nations has increased from 37 to 65 since the previous assessment, conducted over a decade past. One type, the Madeiran large white butterfly (Pieris wollastoni) has now been declared extinct.
“Beyond their beauty and cultural significance, pollinating insects like bees and butterflies are lifelines for our health, our food systems and our financial structures – sustaining the produce, vegetables and seeds that sustain us,” stated Grethel Aguilar. “The newest European red list assessments reveal major obstacles, with dangers mounting for butterfly types and crucial non-managed bee types.”
The factors of the quick recent decreases are the ongoing damage or destruction of natural habitats caused by farming intensification and land abandonment, wetland drainage, excessive grazing by animals, and the utilization of pesticides and fertilisers including neonicotinoid chemicals. The fragmentation of pollinator-friendly habitat substantially boosts the danger of local extinctions.
Global heating is also shown to be a primary risk: Over half of all threatened butterflies in Europe are imperilled by the climate change crisis – about twice as many as a previous decade.
Up to 90% of flowering plants in Europe depend on animal pollination, according to the wild bee assessment’s lead coordinator. “Unfortunately, native bee populations are in severe drop and cannot readily be substituted by managed bee colonies,” he said. “If native bees disappear, many native plants might be threatened too – of which flower-rich meadows and beautiful orchid species are just a few examples.”
Fifteen species of bumblebee species, which have an essential part in fertilizing crops such as peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and 14 types of cellophane bee types, famous for fertilizing trees such as willows along with red maples, are now categorized as at-risk. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee exclusive to the European continent and the single type of this biological genus in the European continent, is now assessed as severely threatened – the scientific category closest to disappearance in the wild.
Butterfly species that are solely present on mountain peaks are highly susceptible to global warming as they must ascend higher as their living spaces become hotter but ultimately run out of space. In Spain’s southern region, the grayling of Nevada and the Andalusian anomalous blue butterfly are among over forty percent of European endemics (only found in Europe) threatened with extinction.
In the Mediterranean area, species such as the severely threatened Karpathos grayling butterfly are endangered by extreme wildfires and drought.
At the same time, in the Arctic Circle, climate change is leading to the tree line to advance northwards by tens of metres each year, with underbrush encroaching on wetlands and tundra. Warmer conditions also mean caribou can no more cross the ice sheets to feed on Arctic grasslands and keep them open. Eight butterfly species are threatened with extinction in this area, including Freyja’s fritillary butterfly and the ringlet of the Arctic.
“The largest living space for all these pollinating species is grassland rich in flowers and that is disappearing very fast in Europe because of all these factors,” remarked Martin Warren. “The positive thing is that so many citizens are aware now and there’s a lot more understanding. Under the European Union nature restoration law, all member countries have to turn around the drop in pollinating insects by 2030, and they are going to have to start doing something. There are land holders who are interested. We hope they can receive the motivations that will assist them on their way.”
According to the coordinator, there is “readily achievable actions” in terms of measures for pollinating insects which will not lower agricultural output – and may enhance it – such as farmers developing bloom-filled edges around their fields.
Jessika Roswall, described the protection status of native bees, butterflies and additional pollinators as “dire”.
“Prompt and unified steps is required to address this risk. In collaboration with member states, the Commission of the European Union has implemented an EU-wide monitoring system for pollinating insects based on the EU nature restoration law, which will help to track our advancement. Now, we need to focus on implementation and cooperation with participating nations to safeguard our pollinators,” she said.
The publication of the bee and butterfly assessments is subsequent to the pioneering Europe-wide study on hoverflies, an additional vital group of pollinators. Published in 2022, it revealed that over one-third of all hoverfly varieties in Europe were at risk of extinction.
