The number of non-managed bee types in Europe confronting dying out has more than doubled in the last ten years, and the number of at-risk butterfly has nearly doubled.
This critical situation for essential pollinating insects was disclosed by research studies for the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) red list, which established that at least 172 bee types out of over 1900 were at risk of extinction in the European continent.
The total of butterfly types facing extinction in Europe has grown from thirty-seven to 65 since the last study, performed over a decade past. One type, the large white of Madeira (Pieris wollastoni) has now been classified as extinct.
“Beyond their visual charm and cultural importance, pollinators like bees and butterfly species are lifelines for our health, our food chains and our financial structures – supporting the produce, vegetables and seeds that feed us,” said the IUCN’s director general. “The newest assessments of the European red list reveal serious challenges, with dangers growing for butterfly species and vital non-managed bee varieties.”
The causes of the rapid recent declines are the continuing destruction or damage of natural habitats caused by agricultural intensification and abandoned land, draining of wetlands, livestock overgrazing, and the application of pesticides and fertilisers including neonicotinoids. The division of pollinator-friendly habitat greatly increases the risk of extinctions at local level.
Climate change is also demonstrated to be a primary risk: Fifty-two percent of all at-risk butterflies in the European continent are imperilled by the climate emergency – approximately twofold the amount as a decade ago.
As many as nine out of ten of flowering plants in the European continent depend on pollination by animals, as per Dr Denis Michez. “Sadly, non-managed bee populations are in severe drop and cannot readily be substituted by domesticated hives,” he said. “If non-managed bees vanish, many native plants might be threatened too – of which meadows rich in flowers and lovely orchid types are just a handful of illustrations.”
Fifteen types of bumblebee types, which have an essential part in aiding the pollination of legumes like peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and 14 species of cellophane bee types, famous for pollinating trees such as willows and red maples, are now classified as threatened. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee type found only in the continent and the only species of this genus in the European continent, is now assessed as critically at risk – the scientific classification closest to dying out in natural habitats.
Butterfly species that are solely present on mountain tops are highly susceptible to global heating as they have to climb upward as their living spaces become hotter but ultimately run out of space. In the southern part of Spain, the Nevada grayling and the anomalous blue of Andalusia are among more than 40% of types unique to Europe (exclusive to Europe) threatened with extinction.
In the Mediterranean region, varieties such as the highly at-risk Karpathos grayling butterfly are threatened by extreme dry conditions and fires.
At the same time, in the Arctic region, global heating is resulting in the forest boundary to move north by many meters each year, with bushes encroaching on bog and tundra. Hotter climates also mean caribou can not anymore cross the ice to graze Arctic meadows and keep them open. Eight butterfly species are threatened with extinction in this zone, including Freyja’s fritillary butterfly and the ringlet of the Arctic.
“The largest habitat for all these pollinating insects is flower-rich grassland and that is vanishing rapidly throughout European nations because of all these elements,” said a lead coordinator for the butterfly assessment. “The positive thing is that so many citizens are aware now and there’s a lot more understanding. Under the European Union nature restoration law, all member states have to reverse the decline in pollinators by the year 2030, and they are going to have to begin taking action. There are property owners who are involved. Let’s hope they can obtain the incentives that will help them on their way.”
As stated by the coordinator, there is “readily achievable actions” in terms of steps for pollinating insects which will not decrease crop yields – and could improve it – such as agricultural producers developing flower-rich margins around their fields.
Jessika Roswall, described the conservation status of wild bees, butterflies and other pollinators as “dire”.
“Prompt and unified steps is necessary to tackle this threat. In collaboration with participating nations, the European Commission has put in place an European Union-wide tracking system for pollinating insects based on the EU nature restoration law, which will help to track our development. Now, we need to focus on application and partnership with participating nations to safeguard our pollinating species,” she said.
The release of the assessments on bees and butterflies comes after the pioneering EU-wide study on hoverflies, a further essential pollinating insect category. Issued in 2022, it disclosed that thirty-seven percent of all hoverfly species in the European continent were at risk of extinction.
