The number of wild bee varieties in Europe facing extinction has more than doubled during the previous ten-year period, whereas the number of endangered butterfly species has nearly doubled.
This pressing issue for essential pollinating insects was unveiled by scientific assessments for the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) red list, which determined that at least over 170 bee types out of nearly two thousand were facing extinction in European nations.
The total of butterfly species at risk of extinction in Europe has grown from 37 to sixty-five since the previous assessment, performed 14 years ago. One type, the large white of Madeira (Pieris wollastoni) has now been confirmed extinct.
Apart from their aesthetic appeal and cultural significance, pollinators like bees and butterfly species are crucial elements for our health, our food systems and our financial structures – maintaining the fruits, veggies and seeds that nourish us,” said the IUCN’s director general. “The latest assessments of the European red list reveal serious challenges, with threats increasing for butterfly species and crucial native bee types.”
The reasons of the rapid recent declines are the continuing destruction or damage of habitats caused by intensive agriculture and land abandonment, draining of wetlands, livestock overgrazing, and the application of fertilisers and pesticides including neonicotinoids. The fragmentation of pollinator-friendly habitat greatly increases the danger of disappearances in specific areas.
Global warming is also shown to be a major threat: 52% of all at-risk butterfly types in Europe are threatened by the climate emergency – approximately twofold the amount as a ten years ago.
Nearly nine out of ten of flowering plants in the European continent depend on insect pollination, as per Dr Denis Michez. “Regrettably, non-managed bee colonies are in sharp decrease and cannot readily be substituted by domesticated hives,” he said. “If non-managed bees disappear, many native plants might be threatened too – of which flower-rich meadows and lovely orchid types 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 bee species, recognized for aiding tree pollination such as willow trees and red maples, are now classified as threatened. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee type found only in the mainland and the sole species of this genus group in European nations, is now assessed as severely threatened – the scientific classification most akin to extinction in the wild.
Butterflies that are solely present on mountain peaks are particularly vulnerable to global warming as they must ascend higher as their living spaces become more heated but ultimately run out of space. In the southern part of Spain, the grayling of Nevada and the Andalusian anomalous blue butterfly are among over forty percent of types unique to Europe (solely present in Europe) facing extinction.
In the Mediterranean region, species such as the severely threatened grayling of Karpathos are threatened by extreme dry conditions and fires.
In the meantime, in the Arctic region, climate change is resulting in the forest boundary to shift northward by tens of metres each year, with bushes taking over wetlands and tundra. Hotter climates also mean caribou can not anymore cross the ice to feed on Arctic meadows and keep them open. 8 butterfly varieties are at risk of extinction in this area, including Freyja’s fritillary and the ringlet of the Arctic.
“The largest environment for all these pollinators is bloom-filled grassy areas and that is vanishing rapidly throughout European nations because of all these elements,” said Martin Warren. “The positive thing is that so many citizens are aware now and there’s a lot more consciousness. Under the European Union nature restoration law, all member countries have to halt the decrease in pollinating species by 2030, and they are going to have to initiate measures. There are property owners who are interested. It is hoped they can obtain the incentives that will support them on their way.”
According to Martin Warren, there is “readily achievable actions” in terms of action for pollinating insects which will not lower crop yields – and could improve it – such as farmers creating flower-rich margins around their fields.
Jessika Roswall, portrayed the protection status of non-managed bees, butterfly species and other pollinating insects as “severe”.
“Immediate and joint measures is necessary to tackle this risk. Together with member countries, the EU Commission has implemented an European Union-wide observation system for pollinating species based on the EU nature restoration regulation, which will help to track our advancement. Now, we need to focus on application and cooperation with member countries to protect our pollinating insects,” she said.
The publication of the bee and butterfly assessments is subsequent to the initial Europe-wide assessment of hoverflies, a further vital pollinating insect category. Issued in twenty-twenty-two, it revealed that thirty-seven percent of all hoverfly types in the European continent were threatened with extinction.
