The number of non-managed bee varieties in Europe facing disappearance has increased twofold over the past decade, whereas the number of endangered butterfly has close to doubled.
This dire scenario for vital pollinating species was disclosed by scientific studies for the IUCN red list, which found that at least over 170 bee species out of 1,928 were at risk of extinction in Europe.
The count of butterfly species threatened with extinction in the European continent has grown from over thirty-five to sixty-five since the earlier research, carried out 14 years ago. One species, the large white of Madeira (Pieris wollastoni) has now been declared extinct.
“Beyond their aesthetic appeal and cultural significance, pollinating insects like bees and butterflies are crucial elements for our health, our food chains and our economic systems – maintaining the fruits, veggies and seeds that sustain us,” said the IUCN director general. “The most recent European red list assessments reveal major obstacles, with dangers mounting for butterfly species and essential non-managed bee varieties.”
The causes of the quick recent decreases are the persistent damage or destruction of habitats caused by farming intensification and deserted farmland, draining wetlands, overgrazing by livestock, and the utilization of fertilisers and pesticides including neonicotinoid chemicals. The breaking up of habitat friendly to pollinators substantially boosts the risk of disappearances in specific areas.
Global warming is also demonstrated to be a significant danger: Fifty-two percent of all at-risk butterflies in Europe are threatened by the climate crisis – roughly twice as many as a ten years ago.
Up to 90% of plants that flower in European nations rely on animal pollination, as stated by Dr Denis Michez. “Regrettably, wild bee populations are in severe drop and are not easily replaceable by domesticated hives,” he said. “If wild bees disappear, many native plants might be in danger as well – of which flower-rich meadows and attractive orchid varieties 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 bees, famous for aiding tree pollination such as willow trees and red maples, are now classified as threatened. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee unique to the mainland and the only species of this genus group in European nations, is now classified as critically endangered – the research category nearest to dying out in natural habitats.
Butterfly types that are only found on mountain peaks are highly susceptible to global heating as they must ascend higher as their environments become warmer but in the end exhaust available space. In Spain’s southern region, the grayling of Nevada and the anomalous blue of Andalusia are among over forty percent of types unique to Europe (solely present in Europe) facing extinction.
In the Mediterranean, varieties such as the severely threatened grayling of Karpathos are threatened by severe dry conditions and fires.
At the same time, in the Arctic region, global heating is leading to the timberline to move north by dozens of meters each year, with scrub encroaching on wetlands and tundra. Hotter climates also mean Arctic deer can no more cross the ice sheets to feed on Arctic meadows and keep them open. Eight types of butterflies are at risk of extinction in this zone, including the fritillary of Freyja and the Arctic ringlet butterfly.
“The greatest environment for all these pollinating species is flower-rich grassland and that is vanishing rapidly in European nations because of all these reasons,” said Martin Warren. “The good news is that so many people care now and there’s a lot more understanding. Under the European Union nature restoration law, all participating nations have to reverse the drop in pollinators by 2030, and they are going to have to start doing something. There are property owners who are interested. It is hoped they can receive the encouragements that will support them on their way.”
According to Martin Warren, there is “low-hanging fruit” in terms of action for pollinators which will not lower food production – and could improve it – such as farmers developing margins rich in flowers around their cultivated areas.
the EU’s environment commissioner, described the conservation status of native bees, butterflies and additional pollinators as “severe”.
“Immediate and joint measures is needed to tackle this risk. In collaboration with member states, the EU Commission has implemented an EU-wide tracking system for pollinators based on the European Union nature restoration legislation, which will help to track our advancement. Now, we need to prioritize execution and partnership with member countries to preserve our pollinating insects,” she said.
The issuance of the evaluations of bees along with butterflies is subsequent to the initial Europe-wide assessment of hoverflies, an additional essential pollinating insect category. Issued in twenty-twenty-two, it disclosed that thirty-seven percent of all hoverfly varieties in Europe were at risk of extinction.
