The number of wild bee types in the European continent facing disappearance has increased twofold over the past decade, and the number of threatened butterfly types has almost doubled.
This dire scenario for vital pollinators was revealed by research studies for the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) red list, which determined that at least over 170 bee types out of over 1900 were facing extinction in Europe.
The total of butterfly species facing extinction in the European continent has risen from over thirty-five to over sixty since the last study, performed 14 years ago. One type, the Madeiran large white butterfly (Pieris wollastoni) has now been declared extinct.
“Beyond their visual charm and cultural importance, pollinating species like bees and butterfly species are essential supports for our health, our food supplies and our financial structures – maintaining the fruits, vegetables and seeds that feed us,” said the IUCN director general. “The most recent European red list assessments reveal serious challenges, with threats increasing for butterflies and crucial native bee types.”
The reasons of the rapid recent declines are the persistent damage or destruction of living environments caused by farming intensification and deserted farmland, draining wetlands, overgrazing by livestock, and the use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides including neonicotinoids. The fragmentation of environments suitable for pollinators greatly increases the danger of local extinctions.
Climate change is also shown to be a major threat: Over half of all at-risk butterfly species in Europe are threatened by the climate crisis – approximately double the number as a ten years ago.
As many as 90% of blooming plants in Europe depend on pollination by animals, according to the lead coordinator of the wild bee assessment. “Unfortunately, wild bee groups are in sharp decrease and are not easily replaceable by domesticated hives,” he said. “If non-managed bees disappear, many non-cultivated plants might be threatened too – of which flower-rich meadows and attractive orchid varieties are just a handful of illustrations.”
15 varieties of bumblebees, which play a crucial role in fertilizing peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and 14 types of cellophane bees, known for aiding tree pollination such as willows and red maples, are now listed as threatened. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee type unique to the European continent and the single type of this biological genus in the European continent, is now evaluated as critically at risk – the scientific category closest to disappearance in the wild.
Butterfly species that are exclusively located on high-altitude areas are particularly vulnerable to global heating as they have to climb upward as their living spaces become more heated but in the end have no room left. In Spain’s southern region, the Nevada grayling and the Andalusian anomalous blue butterfly are among more than 40% of types unique to Europe (only found in Europe) at risk of extinction.
In the Mediterranean region, species such as the severely threatened Karpathos grayling butterfly are endangered by severe drought and wildfires.
In the meantime, in the Arctic region, global warming is resulting in the forest boundary to shift northward by tens of metres each year, with scrub taking over bog and tundra. Higher temperatures also mean reindeer can no longer cross the frozen water to browse Arctic meadows and maintain them clear. Eight butterfly species are at risk of extinction in this region, including Freyja’s fritillary butterfly and the Arctic ringlet butterfly.
“The greatest environment for all these pollinating species is grassland rich in flowers and that is vanishing rapidly throughout the European continent because of all these reasons,” said a lead coordinator for the butterfly assessment. “The encouraging aspect is that so many people are concerned now and there’s a lot more understanding. Under the EU nature restoration legislation, all member countries have to halt the decrease in pollinating species by 2030, and they are going to have to initiate measures. There are land holders who are engaged. Let’s hope they can receive the incentives that will support them on their way.”
As per Warren, there is “low-hanging fruit” in terms of steps for pollinating species which won’t reduce food production – and might boost it – such as agricultural producers creating bloom-filled edges around their farmland.
Jessika Roswall, characterized the conservation status of non-managed bees, butterfly species and other pollinating insects as “dire”.
“Prompt and unified steps is needed to tackle this danger. Together with member states, the Commission of the European Union has established an EU-wide observation system for pollinating insects based on the EU nature restoration regulation, which will aid in following our progress. Now, we need to prioritize execution and collaboration with participating nations to preserve our pollinating insects,” she said.
The publication of the bee and butterfly assessments follows the initial European-wide study on hoverflies, another vital pollinator group. Published in 2022, it showed that 37% of all hoverfly varieties in the European continent were facing extinction.
