The count of wild bee species in Europe facing dying out has increased twofold over the past decade, while the count of at-risk butterfly has almost doubled.
This critical situation for essential pollinating insects was unveiled by research studies for the red list of threatened species, which determined that at least 172 bee species out of over 1900 were at risk of extinction in Europe.
The total of butterfly types at risk of extinction in Europe has grown from over thirty-five to 65 since the earlier research, conducted 14 years ago. One species, the large white of Madeira (Pieris wollastoni) has now been confirmed extinct.
Apart from their visual charm and cultural significance, pollinating species like bees along with butterflies are essential supports for our well-being, our food supplies and our financial structures – maintaining the produce, vegetables and seeds that feed us,” said Grethel Aguilar. “The newest European red list assessments reveal major obstacles, with threats increasing for butterfly species and essential wild bee types.”
The factors of the swift recent drops are the continuing destruction or damage of natural habitats caused by agricultural intensification and deserted farmland, draining wetlands, excessive grazing by animals, and the use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides including neonicotinoids. The breaking up of pollinator-friendly habitat greatly increases the danger of local extinctions.
Global warming is also revealed to be a primary risk: 52% of all at-risk butterfly types in Europe are endangered by the climate change crisis – roughly twice as many as a ten years ago.
Up to ninety percent of flowering plants in Europe require insect pollination, as stated by the lead coordinator of the wild bee assessment. “Regrettably, wild bee populations are in sharp decrease and cannot readily be substituted by domesticated hives,” he said. “If wild bees disappear, many non-cultivated plants might be at risk too – of which bloom-filled grasslands and beautiful orchid species are just a handful of illustrations.”
Fifteen species of bumblebee species, which play a crucial role in fertilizing crops such as peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and 14 types of cellophane bee types, famous for pollinating trees such as willows along with red maples, are now classified as threatened. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee type unique to the European continent and the only species of this biological genus in the European continent, is now assessed as critically at risk – the research category closest to extinction in the wild.
Butterfly species that are solely present on mountain peaks are particularly vulnerable to climate change as they have to climb upward as their habitats become warmer but eventually have no room left. In Spain’s southern region, the Nevada grayling butterfly and the Andalusian anomalous blue are among above 40 percent of species endemic to Europe (exclusive to Europe) at risk of extinction.
In the Mediterranean region, types such as the severely threatened grayling of Karpathos are endangered by severe wildfires and drought.
Meanwhile, in the Arctic region, climate change is leading to the forest boundary to shift northward by many meters each year, with underbrush taking over bog and tundra. Higher temperatures also mean Arctic deer can not anymore cross the ice sheets to browse Arctic meadows and maintain them clear. 8 butterfly varieties are facing extinction in this region, including the fritillary of Freyja and the ringlet of the Arctic.
“The largest environment for all these pollinating insects is flower-rich grassland and that is vanishing rapidly in European nations because of all these reasons,” said one of the lead coordinators of the butterflies assessment. “The encouraging aspect is that so many people care now and there’s a lot more consciousness. Under the EU nature restoration legislation, all participating nations have to turn around the drop in pollinating insects by the year 2030, and they are going to have to start doing something. There are property owners who are involved. We hope they can receive the incentives that will assist them on their way.”
As per the coordinator, there is “readily achievable actions” in terms of measures for pollinating insects which will not decrease crop yields – and may enhance it – such as farmers establishing bloom-filled edges around their fields.
the EU’s environment commissioner, characterized the conservation status of wild bees, butterflies and other pollinators as “dire”.
“Urgent and collective action is needed to tackle this danger. Together with member countries, the European Commission has implemented an European Union-wide tracking system for pollinators based on the EU nature restoration law, which will assist in monitoring our advancement. Now, we need to prioritize execution and collaboration with member states to protect our pollinating species,” she said.
The release of the evaluations of bees along with butterflies comes after the pioneering Europe-wide study on hoverflies, a further essential group of pollinators. Published in twenty-twenty-two, it revealed that thirty-seven percent of all hoverfly varieties in European nations were at risk of extinction.
