The number of wild bee varieties in the European continent facing extinction has increased twofold during the previous ten-year period, while the count of endangered butterfly has close to doubled.
This pressing issue for vital pollinating species was disclosed by research studies for the red list of threatened species, which found that at least over 170 bee varieties out of over 1900 were facing extinction in Europe.
The number of butterflies facing extinction in the European continent has risen from 37 to 65 since the earlier research, performed 14 years ago. One type, the Madeiran large white butterfly (Pieris wollastoni) has now been declared extinct.
In addition to their aesthetic appeal and cultural value, pollinators like bees along with butterflies are essential supports for our well-being, our food chains and our economies – maintaining the produce, vegetables and seeds that feed us,” commented the IUCN director general. “The newest assessments of the European red list reveal significant difficulties, with dangers increasing for butterflies and vital native bee species.”
The causes of the rapid recent declines are the persistent damage or destruction of natural habitats caused by intensive agriculture and abandoned land, draining wetlands, livestock overgrazing, and the application of fertilisers and pesticides including neonicotinoids. The fragmentation of pollinator-friendly habitat substantially boosts the risk of disappearances in specific areas.
Global warming is also demonstrated to be a primary risk: Fifty-two percent of all at-risk butterflies in Europe are imperilled by the climate emergency – roughly double the number as a ten years ago.
Nearly ninety percent of flowering plants in Europe require pollination by animals, as stated by Dr Denis Michez. “Regrettably, wild bee colonies are in sharp decrease and cannot readily be substituted by managed colonies,” he said. “If native bees die out, many non-cultivated plants might be threatened too – of which bloom-filled grasslands and lovely orchid types are just a couple of instances.”
15 varieties of bumblebee species, which play a crucial role in pollinating peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and 14 types of cellophane bee species, famous for aiding tree pollination such as willow trees and red maples, are now listed as threatened. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee type found only in the continent and the only species of this genus in European nations, is now evaluated as critically endangered – the scientific category most akin to dying out in natural habitats.
Butterflies that are exclusively located on mountain tops are highly susceptible to climate change as they have to climb upward as their living spaces become more heated but eventually exhaust available space. In the southern part of Spain, the Nevada grayling and the Andalusian anomalous blue are among more than 40% of European endemics (solely present in Europe) facing extinction.
In the Mediterranean area, varieties such as the highly at-risk grayling of Karpathos are imperilled by extreme wildfires and drought.
At the same time, in the Arctic Circle, global warming is leading to the timberline to shift northward by tens of metres each year, with scrub taking over wetlands and tundra. Warmer conditions also mean Arctic deer can no more cross the ice to graze northern grasslands and maintain them clear. 8 butterfly varieties are facing extinction in this region, including the fritillary of Freyja and the Arctic ringlet butterfly.
“The biggest habitat for all these pollinating species is bloom-filled grassy areas and that is declining quickly throughout the European continent because of all these elements,” said a lead coordinator for the butterfly assessment. “The positive thing is that so many people are aware now and there’s a lot more consciousness. Under the European Union nature restoration law, all member countries have to reverse the decrease in pollinators by twenty-thirty, and they are going to have to begin taking action. There are landowners who are engaged. We hope they can get the motivations that will assist them on their way.”
As stated by Warren, there is “readily achievable actions” in terms of steps for pollinators which will not decrease food production – and may enhance it – such as agricultural producers establishing flower-rich margins around their farmland.
EU commissioner for environment, characterized the conservation status of non-managed bees, butterfly species and other pollinating insects as “dire”.
“Prompt and unified steps is necessary to address this threat. Along with participating nations, the Commission of the European Union has established an EU-wide monitoring system for pollinating insects based on the EU nature restoration law, which will help to track our advancement. Now, we need to focus on execution and cooperation with member countries to safeguard our pollinators,” she said.
The release of the assessments on bees and butterflies comes after the pioneering EU-wide assessment of hoverflies, another crucial pollinator group. Released in twenty-twenty-two, it disclosed that thirty-seven percent of all hoverfly types in European nations were facing extinction.