The total of non-managed bee types in the European continent experiencing extinction has increased twofold in the last ten years, and the number of at-risk butterfly has almost doubled.
This pressing issue for vital pollinators was disclosed by scientific assessments for the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) red list, which established that at least over 170 bee varieties out of over 1900 were facing extinction in Europe.
The count of butterfly species at risk of extinction in the European continent has grown from thirty-seven to over sixty since the earlier research, carried out a decade and a half ago. One type, the Madeiran large white butterfly (Pieris wollastoni) has now been confirmed extinct.
Apart from their visual charm and cultural value, pollinating species like bees and butterfly species are lifelines for our physical condition, our food chains and our economies – maintaining the produce, vegetables and seeds that sustain us,” commented the IUCN director general. “The most recent assessments of the European red list reveal significant difficulties, with risks growing for butterfly species and essential non-managed bee species.”
The causes of the quick recent decreases are the persistent damage or destruction of natural habitats caused by agricultural intensification and land abandonment, draining wetlands, excessive grazing by animals, and the use of fertilisers and pesticides including neonicotinoid chemicals. The breaking up of environments suitable for pollinators greatly increases the threat of local extinctions.
Global heating is also revealed to be a primary risk: Fifty-two percent of all threatened butterfly types in the European continent are endangered by the climate emergency – approximately twice as many as a ten years ago.
Up to 90% of plants that flower in the European continent require animal pollination, according to the lead coordinator of the wild bee assessment. “Regrettably, non-managed bee groups are in drastic decline and cannot readily be substituted by managed colonies,” he said. “If native bees disappear, many non-cultivated plants might be in danger as well – of which meadows rich in flowers and beautiful orchid species are just a couple of instances.”
15 varieties of bumblebee species, which play a crucial role in pollinating peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and 14 types of cellophane bees, famous for pollinating trees such as willows along with red maples, are now listed as threatened. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee exclusive to the continent and the only species of this genus in European nations, is now evaluated as severely threatened – the scientific category closest to disappearance in the wild.
Butterfly species that are only found on high-altitude areas are highly susceptible to global warming as they have to climb upward as their living spaces become warmer but eventually have no room left. In the southern part of Spain, the Nevada grayling butterfly and the anomalous blue of Andalusia are among over forty percent of types unique to Europe (only found in Europe) facing extinction.
In the Mediterranean area, varieties such as the severely threatened Karpathos grayling butterfly are threatened by extreme dry conditions and fires.
At the same time, in the Arctic Circle, global heating is causing the forest boundary to advance northwards by tens of metres each year, with underbrush encroaching on marsh and tundra. Hotter climates also mean Arctic deer can no more cross the ice to browse Arctic grasslands and prevent them from overgrowing. 8 butterfly varieties are at risk of extinction in this region, including Freyja’s fritillary butterfly and the Arctic ringlet butterfly.
“The largest habitat for all these pollinators is grassland rich in flowers and that is declining quickly in the European continent because of all these factors,” remarked a lead coordinator for the butterfly assessment. “The positive thing is that so many people are aware now and there’s a lot more awareness. Under the EU nature restoration legislation, all member countries have to reverse the drop in pollinating species by twenty-thirty, and they are going to have to start doing something. There are land holders who are involved. We hope they can get the encouragements that will support them on their way.”
As stated by Martin Warren, there is “low-hanging fruit” in terms of action for pollinating species which will not lower crop yields – and may enhance it – such as agricultural producers creating margins rich in flowers around their cultivated areas.
EU commissioner for environment, characterized the protection status of non-managed bees, butterfly species and other pollinating insects as “severe”.
“Urgent and collective action is necessary to address this risk. In collaboration with participating nations, the Commission of the European Union has implemented an Europe-wide monitoring system for pollinators based on the EU nature restoration law, which will help to track our progress. Now, we need to focus on execution and collaboration with member states to safeguard our pollinators,” she said.
The release of the evaluations of bees along with butterflies comes after the initial EU-wide evaluation of hoverflies, an additional essential group of pollinators. Published in 2022, it revealed that 37% of all hoverfly species in Europe were at risk of extinction.
