The total of wild bee species in Europe confronting extinction has increased twofold during the previous ten-year period, while the number of endangered butterfly has almost doubled.
This pressing issue for essential pollinating species was disclosed by scientific assessments for the red list of threatened species, which determined that at least over 170 bee species out of nearly two thousand were threatened with extinction in Europe.
The number of butterfly types at risk of extinction in Europe has risen from over thirty-five to over sixty since the earlier research, carried out a decade and a half ago. One species, the Madeiran large white (Pieris wollastoni) has now been declared extinct.
In addition to their visual charm and cultural importance, pollinators like bees and butterfly species are lifelines for our well-being, our food systems and our economic systems – sustaining the fruits, veggies and seeds that feed us,” commented Grethel Aguilar. “The newest European red list evaluations reveal major obstacles, with risks growing for butterfly species and essential native bee species.”
The causes of the rapid recent declines are the continuing damage or destruction of habitats caused by intensive agriculture and deserted farmland, wetland drainage, overgrazing by livestock, and the use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides including neonicotinoid pesticides. The division of pollinator-friendly habitat substantially boosts the risk of disappearances in specific areas.
Global heating is also revealed to be a major threat: Fifty-two percent of all threatened butterfly types in European nations are threatened by the climate change crisis – approximately twofold the amount as a ten years ago.
Up to nine out of ten of plants that flower in Europe depend on pollination by animals, as stated by the lead coordinator of the wild bee assessment. “Regrettably, non-managed bee groups are in sharp decrease and are not easily replaceable by managed colonies,” he said. “If native bees vanish, many non-cultivated plants might be threatened too – of which flower-rich meadows and attractive orchid varieties are just a few examples.”
Fifteen types of bumblebee species, which perform a vital function in fertilizing crops such as peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and 14 types of cellophane bee species, known for fertilizing trees such as willows and red maples, are now categorized as at-risk. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee type unique to the continent and the sole species of this biological genus in the European continent, is now assessed as critically at risk – the research category closest to disappearance in the wild.
Butterfly types that are only found on mountain tops are especially at risk to climate change as they need to move uphill as their living spaces become more heated but in the end run out of space. In Spain’s southern region, the Nevada grayling and the Andalusian anomalous blue are among more than 40% of European endemics (solely present in Europe) facing extinction.
In the Mediterranean area, species such as the severely threatened grayling of Karpathos are threatened by severe drought and wildfires.
In the meantime, in the Arctic region, climate change is resulting in the forest boundary to advance northwards by many meters each year, with underbrush invading marsh and tundra. Hotter climates also mean reindeer can no more cross the ice sheets to feed on northern grasslands and keep them open. 8 butterfly varieties are threatened with extinction in this area, including Freyja’s fritillary and the Arctic ringlet.
“The biggest living space for all these pollinating species is flower-rich grassland and that is vanishing rapidly across the European continent because of all these reasons,” remarked Martin Warren. “The good news is that so many individuals are aware now and there’s a lot more awareness. Under the European Union nature restoration law, all participating nations have to halt the decrease in pollinators by 2030, and they are going to have to initiate measures. There are property owners who are engaged. Let’s hope they can receive the incentives that will support them on their way.”
According to Warren, there is “readily achievable actions” in terms of action for pollinators which will not lower crop yields – and might boost it – such as farmers establishing bloom-filled edges around their farmland.
the EU’s environment commissioner, characterized the conservation status of wild bees, butterflies and other pollinators as “severe”.
“Prompt and unified steps is required to address this threat. Together with member countries, the EU Commission has established an European Union-wide monitoring system for pollinators based on the EU nature restoration law, which will help to track our progress. Now, we need to concentrate on execution and cooperation with member countries to preserve our pollinating insects,” she said.
The publication of the evaluations of bees along with butterflies follows the pioneering EU-wide evaluation of hoverflies, another vital pollinating insect category. Released in twenty-twenty-two, it showed that over one-third of all hoverfly types in Europe were at risk of extinction.
