The total of native bee species in European nations experiencing extinction has over doubled in the last ten years, whereas the total of endangered butterfly has almost doubled.
This dire scenario for crucial pollinators was revealed by scientific studies for the IUCN red list, which determined that at least over 170 bee types out of nearly two thousand were facing extinction in the European continent.
The count of butterfly species facing extinction in European nations has risen from 37 to sixty-five since the earlier research, conducted a decade and a half ago. One type, the Madeiran large white (Pieris wollastoni) has now been classified as extinct.
“Beyond their aesthetic appeal and cultural importance, pollinating insects like bees and butterflies are essential supports for our physical condition, our food systems and our financial structures – supporting the fruits, veggies and seeds that feed us,” said Grethel Aguilar. “The latest European red list assessments reveal serious challenges, with risks increasing for butterfly types and vital non-managed bee varieties.”
The factors of the swift recent drops are the persistent damage or destruction of natural habitats caused by intensive agriculture and abandoned land, draining of wetlands, excessive grazing by animals, and the application of fertilisers and pesticides including neonicotinoid chemicals. The breaking up of habitat friendly to pollinators greatly increases the threat of local extinctions.
Global warming is also revealed to be a primary risk: 52% of all at-risk butterfly types in the European continent are threatened by the climate crisis – roughly twofold the amount as a previous decade.
Nearly 90% of blooming plants in European nations require insect pollination, as per the lead coordinator of the wild bee assessment. “Unfortunately, wild bee groups are in sharp decrease and are not easily replaceable by managed bee colonies,” he said. “If native bees die out, many native plants might be at risk too – of which bloom-filled grasslands and beautiful orchid species are just a handful of illustrations.”
Fifteen species of bumblebees, which play a crucial role in fertilizing crops such as peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and 14 types of cellophane bee species, famous for aiding tree pollination such as willows and red maples, are now categorized as at-risk. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee exclusive to the European continent and the only species of this genus in Europe, is now assessed as critically endangered – the research category closest to dying out in natural habitats.
Butterflies that are only found on mountain tops are highly susceptible to climate change as they have to climb upward as their habitats become more heated but ultimately exhaust available space. In Spain’s southern region, the Nevada grayling and the Andalusian anomalous blue butterfly are among more than 40% of European endemics (exclusive to Europe) facing extinction.
In the Mediterranean area, species such as the highly at-risk Karpathos grayling are imperilled by intense drought and wildfires.
At the same time, in the Arctic region, climate change is leading to the forest boundary to advance northwards by dozens of meters each year, with scrub invading wetlands and tundra. Warmer conditions also mean reindeer can not anymore cross the ice to graze Arctic meadows and keep them open. Eight butterfly species are threatened with extinction in this zone, including Freyja’s fritillary butterfly and the Arctic ringlet.
“The largest habitat for all these pollinating species is grassland rich in flowers and that is declining quickly in European nations because of all these elements,” remarked one of the lead coordinators of the butterflies assessment. “The good news is that so many people are aware now and there’s a lot more awareness. Under the EU nature restoration legislation, all participating nations have to turn around the decline in pollinators by the year 2030, and they are going to have to begin taking action. There are property owners who are engaged. It is hoped they can receive the incentives that will assist them on their way.”
As stated by Martin Warren, there is “low-hanging fruit” in terms of steps for pollinating species which won’t reduce agricultural output – and may enhance it – such as agricultural producers establishing flower-rich margins around their fields.
Jessika Roswall, described the conservation status of non-managed bees, butterfly species and other pollinating insects as “severe”.
“Prompt and unified steps is needed to confront this risk. Along with member states, the EU Commission has implemented an European Union-wide monitoring system for pollinating insects based on the EU nature restoration regulation, which will aid in following our advancement. Now, we need to prioritize application and cooperation with member states to preserve our pollinating species,” she said.
The publication of the assessments on bees and butterflies follows the first Europe-wide assessment of hoverflies, a further essential pollinating insect category. Published in 2022, it showed that over one-third of all hoverfly types in the European continent were at risk of extinction.
