The number of wild bee species in the European continent facing extinction has over doubled over the past decade, and the count of threatened butterfly types has nearly doubled.
This critical situation for crucial pollinators was unveiled by scientific studies for the red list of threatened species, which found that at least 172 bee species out of over 1900 were facing extinction in the European continent.
The number of butterfly types threatened with extinction in the European continent has risen from over thirty-five to 65 since the last study, conducted over a decade past. A single species, the Madeiran large white (Pieris wollastoni) has now been confirmed extinct.
In addition to their beauty and cultural significance, pollinating species like bees and butterfly species are lifelines for our health, our food supplies and our economic systems – maintaining the fruits, veggies and seeds that sustain us,” commented Grethel Aguilar. “The latest European red list assessments reveal serious challenges, with threats mounting for butterflies and vital native bee species.”
The factors of the swift recent drops are the continuing damage or destruction of living environments caused by intensive agriculture and land abandonment, draining wetlands, livestock overgrazing, and the utilization of pesticides and fertilisers including neonicotinoid chemicals. The breaking up of environments suitable for pollinators greatly increases the threat of disappearances in specific areas.
Climate change is also demonstrated to be a major threat: Fifty-two percent of all endangered butterflies in Europe are imperilled by the climate crisis – about twice as many as a decade ago.
Nearly 90% of blooming plants in European nations rely on insect pollination, as stated by Dr Denis Michez. “Unfortunately, non-managed bee groups are in drastic decline and are not easily replaceable by managed colonies,” he said. “If native bees vanish, many wild plants might be threatened too – of which bloom-filled grasslands and beautiful orchid species are just a few examples.”
Fifteen types of bumblebees, which have an essential part in pollinating legumes like peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and 14 types of cellophane bee types, recognized for fertilizing trees such as willows along with red maples, are now classified as threatened. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee unique to the European continent and the single type of this biological genus in the European continent, is now evaluated as severely threatened – the research category nearest to extinction in the wild.
Butterfly species that are only found on mountain peaks are particularly vulnerable to global heating as they must ascend higher as their environments become hotter but eventually exhaust available space. In southern Spain, the grayling of Nevada and the Andalusian anomalous blue are among more than 40% of types unique to Europe (exclusive to Europe) threatened with extinction.
In the Mediterranean area, species such as the critically endangered Karpathos grayling are threatened by intense drought and wildfires.
Meanwhile, in the Far North, climate change is leading to the tree line to advance northwards by many meters each year, with bushes taking over bog and tundra. Warmer conditions also mean reindeer can no more cross the frozen water to graze northern grasslands and prevent them from overgrowing. Eight butterfly species are facing extinction in this zone, including the fritillary of Freyja and the Arctic ringlet.
“The greatest environment for all these pollinating species is flower-rich grassland and that is declining quickly across the European continent because of all these factors,” stated one of the lead coordinators of the butterflies assessment. “The encouraging aspect is that so many people are aware now and there’s a lot more awareness. Under the EU’s nature restoration regulation, all member countries have to turn around the drop in pollinating species by 2030, and they are going to have to start doing something. There are land holders who are engaged. Let’s hope they can obtain the motivations that will help them on their way.”
As per Martin Warren, there is “low-hanging fruit” in terms of measures for pollinating insects which will not decrease food production – and might boost it – such as agricultural producers establishing margins rich in flowers around their fields.
the EU’s environment commissioner, described the preservation condition of wild bees, butterflies and other pollinators as “critical”.
“Urgent and collective action is needed to address this danger. Together with member states, the Commission of the European Union has implemented an Europe-wide observation system for pollinators based on the European Union nature restoration legislation, which will help to track our progress. Now, we need to prioritize application and cooperation with member countries to protect our pollinating species,” she said.
The issuance of the evaluations of bees along with butterflies comes after the first EU-wide study on hoverflies, another essential group of pollinators. Published in 2022, it showed that thirty-seven percent of all hoverfly species in European nations were threatened with extinction.
