The count of native bee types in Europe facing disappearance has increased twofold during the previous ten-year period, while the count of endangered butterfly species has nearly doubled.
This critical situation for vital pollinating species was disclosed by scientific studies for the red list of threatened species, which determined that at least over 170 bee varieties out of nearly two thousand were at risk of extinction in the European continent.
The total of butterfly species facing extinction in Europe has increased from thirty-seven to sixty-five since the previous assessment, performed 14 years ago. One type, the Madeiran large white butterfly (Pieris wollastoni) has now been confirmed extinct.
“Beyond their aesthetic appeal and cultural importance, pollinating species like bees along with butterflies are crucial elements for our health, our food chains and our economic systems – sustaining the fruits, veggies and seeds that nourish us,” stated the IUCN director general. “The newest European red list assessments reveal major obstacles, with threats mounting for butterfly types and crucial wild bee species.”
The factors of the swift recent drops are the persistent damage or destruction of living environments caused by intensive agriculture and deserted farmland, draining of wetlands, excessive grazing by animals, and the use of pesticides and fertilisers including neonicotinoid pesticides. The breaking up of pollinator-friendly habitat greatly increases the risk of disappearances in specific areas.
Global warming is also shown to be a significant danger: Fifty-two percent of all at-risk butterfly types in Europe are imperilled by the climate change crisis – about twice as many as a decade ago.
As many as 90% of flowering plants in Europe depend on insect pollination, as stated by the wild bee assessment’s lead coordinator. “Unfortunately, native bee colonies are in severe drop and cannot readily be substituted by managed colonies,” he said. “If wild bees die out, many non-cultivated plants might be threatened too – of which flower-rich meadows and beautiful orchid species are just a handful of illustrations.”
Fifteen types of bumblebees, which have an essential part in aiding the pollination of peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and 14 types of cellophane bee species, recognized for pollinating trees such as willows and 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 assessed as severely threatened – the scientific category closest to extinction in the wild.
Butterfly types that are solely present on mountain peaks are highly susceptible to global warming as they have to climb upward as their living spaces become more heated but ultimately have no room left. In southern Spain, the grayling of Nevada and the Andalusian anomalous blue butterfly are among above 40 percent of species endemic to Europe (exclusive to Europe) at risk of extinction.
In the Mediterranean area, varieties such as the highly at-risk Karpathos grayling butterfly are imperilled by extreme dry conditions and fires.
In the meantime, in the Arctic Circle, global warming is resulting in the timberline to advance northwards by tens of metres each year, with underbrush taking over wetlands and tundra. Hotter climates also mean Arctic deer can not anymore cross the frozen water to feed on Arctic grasslands and prevent them from overgrowing. Eight types of butterflies are threatened with extinction in this area, including Freyja’s fritillary butterfly and the ringlet of the Arctic.
“The greatest environment for all these pollinating species is grassland rich in flowers and that is disappearing very fast across Europe because of all these elements,” said one of the lead coordinators of the butterflies assessment. “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 states have to turn around the drop in pollinators by twenty-thirty, and they are going to have to initiate measures. There are land holders who are interested. We hope they can receive the incentives that will support them on their way.”
According to the coordinator, there is “low-hanging fruit” in terms of steps for pollinating insects which will not lower agricultural output – and may enhance it – such as growers creating flower-rich margins around their cultivated areas.
Jessika Roswall, portrayed the conservation status of non-managed bees, butterfly species and other pollinating insects as “critical”.
“Urgent and collective action is needed to address this danger. Along with member countries, the Commission of the European Union has established an Europe-wide monitoring system for pollinating species based on the European Union nature restoration legislation, which will assist in monitoring our development. Now, we need to concentrate on execution and collaboration with member states to preserve our pollinating insects,” she said.
The issuance of the assessments on bees and butterflies is subsequent to the first EU-wide assessment of hoverflies, a further essential group of pollinators. Released in twenty-twenty-two, it showed that thirty-seven percent of all hoverfly varieties in Europe were threatened with extinction.
