The count of non-managed bee types in the European continent confronting disappearance has more than doubled over the past decade, whereas the total of endangered butterfly has nearly doubled.
This dire scenario for essential pollinators was disclosed by scientific assessments for the red list of threatened species, which found that at least over 170 bee types out of over 1900 were at risk of extinction in the European continent.
The number of butterfly species facing extinction in the European continent has grown from thirty-seven to sixty-five since the last study, conducted over a decade past. One species, the Madeiran large white (Pieris wollastoni) has now been classified as extinct.
“Beyond their visual charm and cultural value, pollinating species like bees along with butterflies are essential supports for our health, our food systems and our financial structures – sustaining the produce, vegetables and seeds that feed us,” said Grethel Aguilar. “The newest European red list assessments reveal significant difficulties, with threats growing for butterflies and essential native bee types.”
The factors of the rapid recent declines are the continuing harm or degradation of natural habitats caused by intensive agriculture and deserted farmland, draining of wetlands, livestock overgrazing, and the use of pesticides and fertilisers including neonicotinoid pesticides. The fragmentation of environments suitable for pollinators substantially boosts the risk of extinctions at local level.
Global heating is also revealed to be a major threat: 52% of all at-risk butterfly types in European nations are endangered by the climate emergency – approximately double the number as a ten years ago.
Up to 90% of blooming plants in the European continent depend on pollination by animals, according to Dr Denis Michez. “Unfortunately, wild bee populations are in severe drop and are not easily replaceable by managed colonies,” he said. “If non-managed bees die out, many non-cultivated plants might be in danger as well – of which bloom-filled grasslands and attractive orchid varieties are just a few examples.”
Fifteen types of bumblebee species, which have an essential part in pollinating peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and 14 species of cellophane bee types, recognized for aiding tree pollination such as willow trees and red maples, are now categorized as at-risk. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee type exclusive to the European continent and the single type of this biological genus in European nations, is now classified as critically endangered – the research category most akin to disappearance in the wild.
Butterflies that are only found on mountain tops are particularly vulnerable to global heating as they must ascend higher as their environments become hotter but in the end exhaust available space. In the southern part of Spain, the Nevada grayling 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, types such as the severely threatened Karpathos grayling are threatened by severe dry conditions and fires.
Meanwhile, in the Arctic Circle, global warming is leading to the forest boundary to shift northward by dozens of meters each year, with underbrush taking over wetlands and tundra. Higher temperatures also mean reindeer can no more cross the ice sheets to feed on Arctic meadows and keep them open. Eight types of butterflies are facing extinction in this area, including Freyja’s fritillary and the ringlet of the Arctic.
“The biggest environment for all these pollinating insects is bloom-filled grassy areas and that is vanishing rapidly across European nations because of all these reasons,” stated Martin Warren. “The good news is that so many people are aware now and there’s a lot more understanding. Under the EU’s nature restoration regulation, all participating nations have to turn around the decrease in pollinators by twenty-thirty, and they are going to have to begin taking action. There are property owners who are interested. It is hoped they can get the incentives that will support them on their way.”
According to Martin Warren, there is “easy opportunities” in terms of action for pollinators which won’t reduce crop yields – and could improve it – such as growers establishing bloom-filled edges around their cultivated areas.
the EU’s environment commissioner, portrayed the protection status of non-managed bees, butterfly species and other pollinating insects as “critical”.
“Immediate and joint measures is needed to address this threat. Together with participating nations, the Commission of the European Union has put in place an Europe-wide tracking system for pollinating insects based on the EU nature restoration regulation, which will assist in monitoring our development. Now, we need to focus on application and cooperation with participating nations to safeguard our pollinators,” she said.
The publication of the evaluations of bees along with butterflies follows the pioneering Europe-wide study on hoverflies, an additional vital group of pollinators. Published in 2022, it disclosed that over one-third of all hoverfly types in the European continent were threatened with extinction.
