The count of native bee species in Europe experiencing disappearance has more than doubled over the past decade, while the count of threatened butterfly has nearly doubled.
This dire scenario for crucial pollinators was revealed by scientific assessments for the red list of threatened species, which determined that at least over 170 bee varieties out of nearly two thousand were threatened with extinction in European nations.
The count of butterflies threatened with extinction in Europe has increased from thirty-seven to over sixty since the last study, carried out over a decade past. One type, the large white of Madeira (Pieris wollastoni) has now been declared extinct.
“Beyond their aesthetic appeal and cultural significance, pollinating species like bees and butterflies are crucial elements for our well-being, our food chains and our economic systems – supporting the fruits, vegetables and seeds that nourish us,” stated the IUCN director general. “The latest European red list evaluations reveal serious challenges, with risks increasing for butterflies and crucial wild bee varieties.”
The reasons of the rapid recent declines are the persistent destruction or damage of natural habitats caused by intensive agriculture and land abandonment, wetland drainage, livestock overgrazing, and the use of pesticides and fertilisers including neonicotinoids. The division of pollinator-friendly habitat significantly raises the risk of local extinctions.
Climate change is also demonstrated to be a significant danger: 52% of all endangered butterflies in Europe are imperilled by the climate change crisis – about double the number as a ten years ago.
Nearly ninety percent of plants that flower in European nations require animal pollination, as per the lead coordinator of the wild bee assessment. “Sadly, native bee groups are in severe drop and are not easily replaceable by managed bee colonies,” he said. “If non-managed bees disappear, many native plants might be at risk too – of which meadows rich in flowers and attractive orchid varieties are just a few examples.”
Fifteen types of bumblebee species, which play a crucial role in fertilizing peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and 14 species of cellophane bee types, known for fertilizing trees such as willows and red maples, are now classified as threatened. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee type unique to the continent and the only species of this genus in the European continent, is now classified as severely threatened – the scientific category closest to extinction in the wild.
Butterflies that are exclusively located on high-altitude areas are highly susceptible to climate change as they must ascend higher as their living spaces become hotter but ultimately exhaust available space. In the southern part of Spain, the grayling of Nevada and the Andalusian anomalous blue butterfly are among more than 40% of types unique to Europe (only found in Europe) threatened with extinction.
In the Mediterranean, types such as the critically endangered grayling of Karpathos are imperilled by severe drought and wildfires.
In the meantime, in the Arctic Circle, global heating is leading to the tree line to advance northwards by tens of metres each year, with underbrush taking over bog and tundra. Hotter climates also mean Arctic deer can no longer cross the frozen water to graze Arctic grasslands and keep them open. Eight butterfly species are at risk of extinction in this zone, including the fritillary of Freyja and the ringlet of the Arctic.
“The largest environment for all these pollinating insects is bloom-filled grassy areas and that is disappearing very fast across the European continent because of all these reasons,” said 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 understanding. Under the European Union nature restoration law, all member countries have to halt the drop in pollinating insects by 2030, and they are going to have to initiate measures. There are land holders who are engaged. Let’s hope they can get the encouragements that will support them on their way.”
According to Warren, there is “low-hanging fruit” in terms of action for pollinating species which won’t reduce crop yields – and could improve it – such as growers creating margins rich in flowers around their farmland.
Jessika Roswall, characterized the protection status of non-managed bees, butterfly species and other pollinating insects as “severe”.
“Prompt and unified steps is required to confront this risk. In collaboration with member countries, the Commission of the European Union has put in place an Europe-wide monitoring system for pollinating insects based on the EU nature restoration law, which will help to track our progress. Now, we need to concentrate on implementation and collaboration with member countries to safeguard our pollinating insects,” she said.
The release of the evaluations of bees along with butterflies comes after the initial EU-wide assessment of hoverflies, a further crucial group of pollinators. Published in 2022, it revealed that thirty-seven percent of all hoverfly varieties in European nations were at risk of extinction.
