The count of wild bee varieties in Europe experiencing disappearance has over doubled during the previous ten-year period, while the number of threatened butterfly types has nearly doubled.
This dire scenario for crucial pollinators was unveiled by scientific assessments for the red list of threatened species, which determined that at least over 170 bee varieties out of nearly two thousand were threatened with extinction in European nations.
The total of butterflies threatened with extinction in European nations has risen from over thirty-five to over sixty since the last study, carried out 14 years ago. A single species, the Madeiran large white (Pieris wollastoni) has now been classified as extinct.
In addition to their aesthetic appeal and cultural value, pollinating species like bees along with butterflies are lifelines for our physical condition, our food supplies and our economies – sustaining the fruits, veggies and seeds that feed us,” said the IUCN director general. “The latest European red list evaluations reveal major obstacles, with threats mounting for butterflies and crucial native bee species.”
The causes of the quick recent decreases are the persistent harm or degradation of living environments caused by agricultural intensification and abandoned land, wetland drainage, overgrazing by livestock, and the application of chemical fertilisers and pesticides including neonicotinoids. The fragmentation of habitat friendly to pollinators significantly raises the risk of local extinctions.
Global heating is also shown to be a major threat: Fifty-two percent of all threatened butterfly types in the European continent are threatened by the climate crisis – about twofold the amount as a decade ago.
Up to ninety percent of plants that flower in the European continent depend on pollination by animals, according to Dr Denis Michez. “Sadly, non-managed bee populations are in drastic decline and cannot be easily replaced by managed bee colonies,” he said. “If native bees disappear, many native plants might be at risk too – of which flower-rich meadows and beautiful orchid species are just a few examples.”
Fifteen species of bumblebees, which have an essential part in aiding the pollination of crops such as peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and 14 species of cellophane bee types, known for aiding tree pollination such as willow trees and red maples, are now listed as threatened. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee species unique to the continent and the sole species of this biological genus in the European continent, is now classified as critically at risk – the scientific classification nearest to extinction 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 environments become more heated but in the end run out of space. In Spain’s southern region, the Nevada grayling butterfly and the anomalous blue of Andalusia are among above 40 percent of species endemic to Europe (only found in Europe) threatened with extinction.
In the Mediterranean area, types such as the highly at-risk Karpathos grayling butterfly are threatened by intense dry conditions and fires.
At the same time, in the Arctic region, global warming is resulting in the forest boundary to advance northwards by tens of metres each year, with bushes encroaching on wetlands and tundra. Hotter climates also mean caribou can no longer cross the ice sheets to browse Arctic grasslands and keep them open. 8 butterfly varieties are threatened with extinction in this area, including Freyja’s fritillary and the ringlet of the Arctic.
“The greatest environment for all these pollinating species is bloom-filled grassy areas and that is declining quickly across Europe because of all these reasons,” stated Martin Warren. “The positive thing 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 reverse the decline in pollinating species by the year 2030, and they are going to have to initiate measures. There are property owners who are interested. We hope they can obtain the motivations that will help them on their way.”
According to Martin Warren, there is “readily achievable actions” in terms of measures for pollinating insects which will not lower food production – and may enhance it – such as farmers developing flower-rich margins around their farmland.
EU commissioner for environment, portrayed the preservation condition of non-managed bees, butterfly species and other pollinating insects as “critical”.
“Immediate and joint measures is necessary to confront this risk. Together with participating nations, the EU Commission has implemented an European Union-wide observation system for pollinating species based on the European Union nature restoration legislation, which will aid in following our progress. Now, we need to concentrate on implementation and cooperation with member states to safeguard our pollinating species,” she said.
The publication of the assessments on bees and butterflies comes after the initial EU-wide assessment of hoverflies, a further vital pollinating insect category. Issued in twenty-twenty-two, it revealed that 37% of all hoverfly types in Europe were facing extinction.
