The number of native bee types in the European continent experiencing dying out has increased twofold over the past decade, whereas the count of at-risk butterfly species has close to doubled.
This critical situation for vital pollinators was disclosed by scientific studies for the IUCN red list, which determined that at least over 170 bee types out of 1,928 were threatened with extinction in European nations.
The total of butterfly types threatened with extinction in European nations has increased from 37 to over sixty since the previous assessment, carried out 14 years ago. One species, the Madeiran large white (Pieris wollastoni) has now been confirmed extinct.
“Beyond their visual charm and cultural importance, pollinators like bees along with butterflies are essential supports for our well-being, our food supplies and our economic systems – maintaining the fruits, vegetables and seeds that nourish us,” said the IUCN’s director general. “The most recent European red list assessments reveal serious challenges, with threats mounting for butterfly species and vital non-managed bee types.”
The reasons of the rapid recent declines are the persistent destruction or damage of living environments caused by intensive agriculture and abandoned land, wetland drainage, overgrazing by livestock, and the use of fertilisers and pesticides including neonicotinoids. The breaking up of environments suitable for pollinators greatly increases the danger of disappearances in specific areas.
Global heating is also revealed to be a major threat: 52% of all at-risk butterfly types in the European continent 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 depend on insect pollination, as per Dr Denis Michez. “Unfortunately, non-managed bee colonies are in drastic decline and are not easily replaceable by managed bee colonies,” he said. “If non-managed bees vanish, many non-cultivated plants might be threatened too – of which meadows rich in flowers and lovely orchid types are just a few examples.”
Fifteen types of bumblebee species, which play a crucial role in pollinating legumes like peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and fourteen varieties 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 type exclusive to the continent and the only species of this biological genus in Europe, is now evaluated as severely threatened – the scientific category most akin to extinction in the wild.
Butterfly types that are only found on high-altitude areas are particularly vulnerable to global warming as they must ascend higher as their habitats become hotter but eventually have no room left. In the southern part of Spain, the grayling of Nevada and the anomalous blue of Andalusia are among more than 40% of European endemics (only found in Europe) threatened with extinction.
In the Mediterranean, types such as the critically endangered Karpathos grayling butterfly are threatened by severe dry conditions and fires.
In the meantime, in the Arctic Circle, global warming is causing the tree line to advance northwards by tens of metres each year, with bushes invading marsh and tundra. Hotter climates also mean Arctic deer can no longer cross the ice sheets to graze Arctic meadows and keep them open. 8 butterfly varieties are threatened with extinction in this zone, including Freyja’s fritillary and the Arctic ringlet.
“The biggest environment for all these pollinating species is bloom-filled grassy areas and that is vanishing rapidly throughout European nations because of all these reasons,” remarked Martin Warren. “The encouraging aspect is that so many citizens are concerned now and there’s a lot more awareness. Under the European Union nature restoration law, all member countries have to turn around the decrease in pollinators by 2030, and they are going to have to start doing something. There are landowners who are engaged. Let’s hope they can get the incentives that will help them on their way.”
As per Martin Warren, there is “readily achievable actions” in terms of measures for pollinating insects which will not lower crop yields – and might boost it – such as growers creating margins rich in flowers around their cultivated areas.
EU commissioner for environment, portrayed the conservation status of non-managed bees, butterfly species and other pollinating insects as “severe”.
“Immediate and joint measures is needed to confront this threat. Together with member countries, the EU Commission has established an Europe-wide tracking system for pollinators based on the EU nature restoration law, which will aid in following our advancement. Now, we need to focus on application and partnership with participating nations to preserve our pollinators,” she said.
The publication of the assessments on bees and butterflies comes after the first EU-wide evaluation of hoverflies, another essential pollinator group. Issued in twenty-twenty-two, it showed that thirty-seven percent of all hoverfly types in the European continent were at risk of extinction.
