The count of native bee species in Europe confronting disappearance has more than doubled during the previous ten-year period, and the number of at-risk butterfly types has almost doubled.
This dire scenario for vital pollinators was revealed by scientific studies for the red list of threatened species, which found that at least 172 bee types out of nearly two thousand were facing extinction in European nations.
The number of butterflies facing extinction in Europe has increased from over thirty-five to 65 since the previous assessment, performed 14 years ago. One species, the Madeiran large white (Pieris wollastoni) has now been declared extinct.
“Beyond their visual charm and cultural value, pollinating species like bees along with butterflies are lifelines for our physical condition, our food systems and our economic systems – sustaining the produce, vegetables and seeds that sustain us,” said the IUCN director general. “The latest assessments of the European red list reveal significant difficulties, with risks increasing for butterfly species and essential wild bee types.”
The reasons of the rapid recent declines are the persistent destruction or damage of natural habitats caused by intensive agriculture and deserted farmland, wetland drainage, excessive grazing by animals, and the use of pesticides and fertilisers including neonicotinoid pesticides. The breaking up of habitat friendly to pollinators substantially boosts the threat of disappearances in specific areas.
Global warming is also shown to be a primary risk: Fifty-two percent of all at-risk butterfly types in Europe are threatened by the climate emergency – approximately twofold the amount as a ten years ago.
Up to nine out of ten of plants that flower in the European continent require insect pollination, according to the lead coordinator of the wild bee assessment. “Unfortunately, non-managed bee populations are in drastic decline and cannot be easily replaced by managed bee colonies,” he said. “If native bees die out, many native plants might be at risk too – of which meadows rich in flowers and beautiful orchid species are just a handful of illustrations.”
15 varieties of bumblebees, which play a crucial role in aiding the pollination of legumes like peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and fourteen varieties of cellophane bee species, recognized for fertilizing trees such as willow trees and red maples, are now classified as threatened. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee unique to the continent and the sole species of this genus group in the European continent, is now evaluated as critically endangered – the scientific classification nearest to extinction in the wild.
Butterfly types that are only found on high-altitude areas are particularly vulnerable to climate change as they must ascend higher as their living spaces become warmer but eventually run out of space. In the southern part of Spain, the Nevada grayling butterfly and the Andalusian anomalous blue butterfly are among above 40 percent of European endemics (exclusive to Europe) at risk of extinction.
In the Mediterranean area, types such as the highly at-risk Karpathos grayling butterfly are endangered by intense wildfires and drought.
In the meantime, in the Arctic Circle, climate change is causing the forest boundary to advance northwards by tens of metres each year, with underbrush invading bog and tundra. Hotter climates also mean reindeer can not anymore cross the ice to browse northern grasslands and prevent them from overgrowing. 8 butterfly varieties are threatened with extinction in this region, including Freyja’s fritillary and the Arctic ringlet butterfly.
“The biggest habitat for all these pollinating insects is bloom-filled grassy areas and that is declining quickly throughout Europe because of all these elements,” remarked one of the lead coordinators of the butterflies assessment. “The encouraging aspect is that so many people are aware now and there’s a lot more understanding. Under the EU’s nature restoration regulation, all member countries have to reverse the decrease in pollinating insects by 2030, and they are going to have to initiate measures. There are landowners who are involved. We hope they can receive the motivations that will support them on their way.”
According to the coordinator, there is “readily achievable actions” in terms of steps for pollinating species which will not decrease crop yields – and might boost it – such as farmers establishing margins rich in flowers around their fields.
EU commissioner for environment, described the protection status of wild bees, butterflies and other pollinators as “critical”.
“Immediate and joint measures is needed to tackle this risk. Together with participating nations, the European Commission has implemented an EU-wide observation system for pollinating insects based on the European Union nature restoration legislation, which will help to track our progress. Now, we need to focus on application and cooperation with member states to safeguard our pollinating insects,” she said.
The issuance of the assessments on bees and butterflies is subsequent to the first Europe-wide assessment of hoverflies, a further crucial pollinator group. Published in 2022, it showed that thirty-seven percent of all hoverfly species in Europe were at risk of extinction.
