The number of non-managed bee varieties in the European continent facing dying out has increased twofold over the past decade, whereas the number of endangered butterfly types has close to doubled.
This critical situation for crucial pollinating insects was disclosed by scientific studies for the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) red list, which found that at least one hundred seventy-two bee types out of over 1900 were facing extinction in the European continent.
The total of butterfly types facing extinction in the European continent has increased from over thirty-five to sixty-five since the last study, conducted a decade and a half ago. One species, the Madeiran large white butterfly (Pieris wollastoni) has now been confirmed extinct.
Apart from their visual charm and cultural significance, pollinating insects like bees and butterfly species are crucial elements for our physical condition, our food supplies and our economies – supporting the fruits, veggies and seeds that nourish us,” stated Grethel Aguilar. “The most recent assessments of the European red list reveal serious challenges, with threats growing for butterfly types and essential non-managed bee types.”
The factors of the rapid recent declines are the continuing damage or destruction of habitats caused by farming intensification and land abandonment, draining wetlands, excessive grazing by animals, and the use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides including neonicotinoid pesticides. The fragmentation of habitat friendly to pollinators greatly increases the danger of disappearances in specific areas.
Global heating is also revealed to be a significant danger: Fifty-two percent of all endangered butterfly species in Europe are threatened by the climate crisis – approximately twofold the amount as a previous decade.
Up to 90% of flowering plants in the European continent require insect pollination, as per the lead coordinator of the wild bee assessment. “Unfortunately, wild bee groups are in drastic decline and cannot be easily replaced by managed colonies,” he said. “If wild bees die out, many native plants might be threatened too – of which meadows rich in flowers and beautiful orchid species are just a few examples.”
Fifteen types of bumblebees, which have an essential part in fertilizing legumes like peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and fourteen varieties of cellophane bee species, recognized for aiding tree pollination such as willow trees and red maples, are now classified as threatened. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee found only in the mainland and the single type of this genus group in the European continent, is now classified as critically at risk – the scientific classification nearest to disappearance in the wild.
Butterfly species that are exclusively located on mountain peaks are highly susceptible to climate change as they have to climb upward as their habitats become hotter but eventually run out of space. In the southern part of Spain, the Nevada grayling and the Andalusian anomalous blue are among over forty percent of European endemics (only found in Europe) threatened with extinction.
In the Mediterranean, species such as the highly at-risk Karpathos grayling butterfly are endangered by severe drought and wildfires.
In the meantime, in the Arctic Circle, global warming is leading to the timberline to advance northwards by dozens of meters each year, with bushes invading wetlands and tundra. Hotter climates also mean reindeer can not anymore cross the frozen water to browse northern grasslands and maintain them clear. Eight butterfly species are facing extinction in this zone, including Freyja’s fritillary butterfly and the Arctic ringlet.
“The greatest environment for all these pollinating insects is bloom-filled grassy areas and that is declining quickly across the European continent because of all these reasons,” 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 halt the drop in pollinating insects by the year 2030, and they are going to have to start doing something. There are land holders who are engaged. It is hoped they can receive the encouragements that will help them on their way.”
According to Martin Warren, there is “low-hanging fruit” in terms of steps for pollinating insects which will not lower agricultural output – and might boost it – such as agricultural producers establishing bloom-filled edges around their farmland.
Jessika Roswall, characterized the conservation status of non-managed bees, butterfly species and other pollinating insects as “critical”.
“Urgent and collective action is needed to tackle this danger. Together with member countries, the Commission of the European Union has put in place an European Union-wide tracking system for pollinating species based on the EU nature restoration regulation, which will help to track our advancement. Now, we need to prioritize application and cooperation with participating nations to safeguard our pollinating species,” she said.
The issuance of the evaluations of bees along with butterflies comes after the initial European-wide evaluation of hoverflies, an additional essential pollinating insect category. Released in twenty-twenty-two, it showed that thirty-seven percent of all hoverfly types in Europe were facing extinction.
