The total of non-managed bee types in the European continent confronting disappearance has increased twofold during the previous ten-year period, whereas the total of endangered butterfly species has close to doubled.
This dire scenario for crucial pollinating species was revealed by research studies for the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) red list, which found that at least over 170 bee species out of over 1900 were threatened with extinction in European nations.
The total of butterflies threatened with extinction in Europe has increased from thirty-seven to over sixty since the earlier research, conducted over a decade past. One species, the Madeiran large white (Pieris wollastoni) has now been declared extinct.
In addition to their beauty and cultural significance, pollinators like bees and butterfly species are lifelines for our physical condition, our food systems and our economic systems – maintaining the fruits, veggies and seeds that nourish us,” said the IUCN director general. “The most recent European red list assessments reveal serious challenges, with risks mounting for butterflies and essential non-managed bee types.”
The causes of the rapid recent declines are the ongoing damage or destruction of living environments caused by agricultural intensification and abandoned land, draining wetlands, overgrazing by livestock, and the use of pesticides and fertilisers including neonicotinoid pesticides. The breaking up of pollinator-friendly habitat significantly raises the threat of extinctions at local level.
Global warming is also shown to be a significant danger: Over half of all at-risk butterfly types in Europe are endangered by the climate emergency – approximately twofold the amount as a decade ago.
Nearly ninety percent of blooming plants in European nations require insect pollination, according to the lead coordinator of the wild bee assessment. “Sadly, wild bee groups are in sharp decrease and are not easily replaceable by managed colonies,” he said. “If non-managed bees vanish, many wild plants might be at risk too – of which meadows rich in flowers and attractive orchid varieties are just a couple of instances.”
Fifteen types of bumblebee types, which play a crucial role in fertilizing peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and fourteen varieties of cellophane bee types, famous for pollinating trees such as willow trees and red maples, are now listed as threatened. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee species exclusive to the European continent and the only species of this biological genus in Europe, is now classified as critically endangered – the scientific category closest to extinction in the wild.
Butterfly species that are solely present on mountain tops are particularly vulnerable to climate change as they must ascend higher as their living spaces become more heated but eventually exhaust available space. In southern Spain, the Nevada grayling and the anomalous blue of Andalusia are among more than 40% of European endemics (solely present in Europe) threatened with extinction.
In the Mediterranean area, types such as the severely threatened grayling of Karpathos are threatened by extreme dry conditions and fires.
At the same time, in the Arctic region, climate change is leading to the timberline to advance northwards by many meters each year, with scrub taking over bog and tundra. Hotter climates also mean caribou can no longer cross the frozen water to browse Arctic meadows and keep them open. Eight butterfly species are threatened with extinction in this zone, including the fritillary of Freyja and the Arctic ringlet.
“The biggest habitat for all these pollinating species is grassland rich in flowers and that is vanishing rapidly across the European continent because of all these factors,” stated Martin Warren. “The good news is that so many citizens are concerned now and there’s a lot more awareness. Under the EU’s nature restoration regulation, all member states have to reverse the decline in pollinating insects by the year 2030, and they are going to have to initiate measures. There are land holders who are engaged. It is hoped they can obtain the encouragements that will assist them on their way.”
As per the coordinator, there is “low-hanging fruit” in terms of action for pollinators which will not lower food production – and may enhance it – such as farmers creating margins rich in flowers around their cultivated areas.
EU commissioner for environment, portrayed the preservation condition of native bees, butterflies and additional pollinators as “critical”.
“Immediate and joint measures is required to tackle this threat. Together with participating nations, the EU Commission has implemented an EU-wide tracking system for pollinating species based on the EU nature restoration regulation, which will aid in following our development. Now, we need to prioritize application and collaboration with member countries to preserve our pollinating species,” she said.
The publication of the assessments on bees and butterflies is subsequent to the first Europe-wide evaluation of hoverflies, a further crucial pollinating insect category. Published in twenty-twenty-two, it showed that thirty-seven percent of all hoverfly species in the European continent were at risk of extinction.
