The total of native bee varieties in Europe experiencing dying out has increased twofold over the past decade, whereas the total of threatened butterfly types has nearly doubled.
This critical situation for crucial pollinating species was revealed by research studies for the red list of threatened species, which found that at least one hundred seventy-two bee varieties out of over 1900 were threatened with extinction in the European continent.
The total of butterfly types at risk of extinction in the European continent has increased from over thirty-five to 65 since the last study, conducted 14 years ago. One type, the large white of Madeira (Pieris wollastoni) has now been declared extinct.
In addition to their beauty and cultural significance, pollinators like bees along with butterflies are lifelines for our health, our food chains and our financial structures – sustaining the fruits, vegetables and seeds that nourish us,” commented Grethel Aguilar. “The latest assessments of the European red list reveal major obstacles, with threats growing for butterflies and essential wild bee types.”
The causes of the swift recent drops are the ongoing destruction or damage of living environments caused by agricultural intensification and deserted farmland, wetland drainage, overgrazing by livestock, and the application of fertilisers and pesticides including neonicotinoids. The fragmentation of habitat friendly to pollinators greatly increases the danger of extinctions at local level.
Climate change is also demonstrated to be a major threat: Fifty-two percent of all at-risk butterflies in the European continent are imperilled by the climate emergency – about twice as many as a ten years ago.
As many as 90% of plants that flower in Europe require insect pollination, according to Dr Denis Michez. “Regrettably, wild bee colonies are in severe drop and cannot be easily replaced by managed bee colonies,” he said. “If wild bees vanish, many wild plants might be at risk too – of which flower-rich meadows and lovely orchid types are just a few examples.”
Fifteen species of bumblebees, which play a crucial role in fertilizing peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and fourteen varieties of cellophane bees, known for aiding tree pollination such as willow trees and red maples, are now classified as threatened. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee type unique to the mainland and the single type of this genus group in the European continent, is now classified as critically endangered – the research category most akin to disappearance in the wild.
Butterfly species that are only found on mountain peaks are especially at risk to global heating as they must ascend higher as their living spaces become warmer but in the end exhaust available space. In southern Spain, the grayling of Nevada and the anomalous blue of Andalusia are among more than 40% of European endemics (only found in Europe) facing extinction.
In the Mediterranean region, types such as the highly at-risk grayling of Karpathos are threatened by intense drought and wildfires.
Meanwhile, in the Arctic region, global heating is causing the timberline to move north by tens of metres each year, with bushes encroaching on bog and tundra. Higher temperatures also mean caribou can no more cross the ice to feed on Arctic meadows and prevent them from overgrowing. Eight types of butterflies are at risk of extinction in this zone, including Freyja’s fritillary butterfly and the Arctic ringlet butterfly.
“The largest environment for all these pollinating insects is grassland rich in flowers and that is declining quickly across Europe because of all these factors,” stated one of the lead coordinators of the butterflies assessment. “The encouraging aspect is that so many citizens are concerned now and there’s a lot more consciousness. Under the European Union nature restoration law, all member countries have to turn around the drop in pollinating insects by twenty-thirty, and they are going to have to initiate measures. There are property owners who are involved. Let’s hope they can receive the motivations that will help them on their way.”
According to Warren, there is “readily achievable actions” in terms of steps for pollinating insects which won’t reduce crop yields – and may enhance it – such as farmers establishing bloom-filled edges around their fields.
Jessika Roswall, characterized the protection status of native bees, butterflies and additional pollinators as “severe”.
“Immediate and joint measures is necessary to confront this risk. Along with participating nations, the EU Commission has put in place an Europe-wide observation system for pollinating species based on the EU nature restoration law, which will assist in monitoring our progress. Now, we need to prioritize implementation and collaboration with participating nations to protect our pollinating species,” she said.
The issuance of the bee and butterfly assessments is subsequent to the pioneering European-wide evaluation of hoverflies, another crucial pollinating insect category. Published in 2022, it showed that 37% of all hoverfly types in Europe were facing extinction.
