The total of non-managed bee varieties in European nations facing extinction has increased twofold in the last ten years, while the number of at-risk butterfly species has close to doubled.
This dire scenario for vital pollinating species was disclosed by scientific assessments for the red list of threatened species, which found that at least over 170 bee varieties out of 1,928 were threatened with extinction in European nations.
The number of butterfly species facing extinction in Europe has grown from thirty-seven to 65 since the last study, carried out over a decade past. A single species, the large white of Madeira (Pieris wollastoni) has now been declared extinct.
In addition to their aesthetic appeal and cultural significance, pollinating insects like bees and butterfly species are lifelines for our physical condition, our food chains and our economies – maintaining the fruits, vegetables and seeds that feed us,” commented Grethel Aguilar. “The latest European red list evaluations reveal serious challenges, with risks increasing for butterfly species and crucial native bee varieties.”
The reasons of the quick recent decreases are the persistent destruction or damage of natural habitats caused by agricultural intensification and deserted farmland, wetland drainage, livestock overgrazing, and the use of fertilisers and pesticides including neonicotinoid chemicals. The division of habitat friendly to pollinators substantially boosts the risk of disappearances in specific areas.
Global warming is also demonstrated to be a major threat: Over half of all threatened butterfly species in Europe are endangered by the climate change crisis – roughly double the number as a ten years ago.
Nearly ninety percent of plants that flower in European nations rely on pollination by animals, as per Dr Denis Michez. “Regrettably, non-managed bee colonies are in severe drop and cannot readily be substituted by managed colonies,” he said. “If wild bees disappear, many wild plants might be threatened too – of which flower-rich meadows and lovely orchid types are just a couple of instances.”
Fifteen species of bumblebee types, which play a crucial role in aiding the pollination of crops such as peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and 14 types of cellophane bees, famous for pollinating trees such as willows and red maples, are now categorized as at-risk. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee type unique to the European continent and the single type of this genus in European nations, is now evaluated as critically at risk – the research category nearest to disappearance in the wild.
Butterflies that are exclusively located on mountain tops are particularly vulnerable to global heating as they must ascend higher as their living spaces become more heated but in the end run out of space. In southern Spain, the Nevada grayling butterfly and the Andalusian anomalous blue butterfly are among more than 40% of species endemic to Europe (exclusive to Europe) threatened with extinction.
In the Mediterranean region, varieties such as the severely threatened Karpathos grayling are imperilled by intense dry conditions and fires.
In the meantime, in the Arctic region, global heating is leading to the tree line to move north by tens of metres each year, with underbrush taking over marsh and tundra. Hotter climates also mean Arctic deer can not anymore cross the ice sheets to feed on Arctic meadows and prevent them from overgrowing. Eight types of butterflies are facing extinction in this zone, including the fritillary of Freyja and the Arctic ringlet.
“The largest living space for all these pollinating insects is grassland rich in flowers and that is vanishing rapidly in Europe because of all these elements,” remarked a lead coordinator for the butterfly assessment. “The positive thing is that so many individuals are concerned now and there’s a lot more consciousness. Under the EU’s nature restoration regulation, all participating nations have to halt the drop in pollinating insects by 2030, and they are going to have to begin taking action. There are land holders who are interested. It is hoped they can get the motivations that will help them on their way.”
According to Warren, there is “easy opportunities” in terms of measures for pollinating species which will not lower agricultural output – and could improve it – such as growers developing margins rich in flowers around their cultivated areas.
the EU’s environment commissioner, characterized the protection status of non-managed bees, butterfly species and other pollinating insects as “severe”.
“Immediate and joint measures is needed to confront this risk. Along with member countries, the European Commission has implemented an European Union-wide tracking system for pollinating insects based on the European Union nature restoration legislation, which will aid in following our progress. Now, we need to focus on execution and collaboration with participating nations to safeguard our pollinating insects,” she said.
The release of the assessments on bees and butterflies comes after the pioneering EU-wide assessment of hoverflies, another vital pollinator group. Released in twenty-twenty-two, it disclosed that 37% of all hoverfly varieties in European nations were facing extinction.
