The number of wild bee types in Europe experiencing disappearance has increased twofold in the last ten years, while the count of endangered butterfly types has nearly doubled.
This pressing issue for vital pollinators was disclosed by research studies for the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) red list, which found that at least over 170 bee species out of nearly two thousand were at risk of extinction in Europe.
The number of butterfly species at risk of extinction in Europe has increased from 37 to 65 since the last study, carried out over a decade past. One type, the Madeiran large white butterfly (Pieris wollastoni) has now been confirmed extinct.
In addition to their aesthetic appeal and cultural value, pollinating insects like bees and butterfly species are essential supports for our physical condition, our food supplies and our economies – sustaining the fruits, veggies and seeds that nourish us,” said the IUCN’s director general. “The newest European red list evaluations reveal significant difficulties, with threats mounting for butterfly species and essential wild bee types.”
The factors of the quick recent decreases are the persistent damage or destruction of habitats caused by intensive agriculture and abandoned land, draining of wetlands, livestock overgrazing, and the utilization of pesticides and fertilisers including neonicotinoid chemicals. The division of habitat friendly to pollinators greatly increases the threat of disappearances in specific areas.
Climate change is also shown to be a major threat: Over half of all at-risk butterfly types in European nations are imperilled by the climate crisis – roughly twofold the amount as a ten years ago.
Nearly ninety percent of blooming plants in the European continent rely on animal pollination, according to Dr Denis Michez. “Unfortunately, native bee populations are in drastic decline and cannot readily be substituted by managed colonies,” he said. “If wild bees vanish, many non-cultivated plants might be threatened too – of which meadows rich in flowers and lovely orchid types are just a handful of illustrations.”
Fifteen types of bumblebees, which play a crucial role in pollinating 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 classified as threatened. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee type unique to the continent and the single type of this genus group in the European continent, is now classified as critically endangered – the scientific classification nearest to extinction in the wild.
Butterflies that are solely present on high-altitude areas are especially at risk to global heating as they have to climb upward as their environments become more heated but eventually exhaust available space. In the southern part of Spain, the grayling of Nevada and the Andalusian anomalous blue butterfly are among above 40 percent of types unique to Europe (exclusive to Europe) facing extinction.
In the Mediterranean, species such as the highly at-risk Karpathos grayling butterfly are endangered by extreme wildfires and drought.
Meanwhile, in the Arctic Circle, climate change is resulting in the forest boundary to advance northwards by tens of metres each year, with bushes encroaching on wetlands and tundra. Higher temperatures also mean reindeer can not anymore cross the frozen water to feed on Arctic meadows and maintain them clear. 8 butterfly varieties are threatened with extinction in this zone, including Freyja’s fritillary and the ringlet of the Arctic.
“The largest environment for all these pollinating species is flower-rich grassland and that is vanishing rapidly in Europe because of all these reasons,” remarked one of the lead coordinators of the butterflies assessment. “The good news is that so many citizens are aware now and there’s a lot more understanding. Under the European Union nature restoration law, all participating nations have to halt the drop in pollinating species by the year 2030, and they are going to have to start doing something. There are land holders who are engaged. We hope they can receive the encouragements that will support them on their way.”
As per Warren, there is “easy opportunities” in terms of measures for pollinating insects which won’t reduce agricultural output – and may enhance it – such as farmers creating flower-rich margins around their farmland.
Jessika Roswall, characterized the preservation condition of wild bees, butterflies and other pollinators as “critical”.
“Urgent and collective action is needed to confront this danger. In collaboration with member countries, the EU Commission has established an Europe-wide tracking system for pollinators based on the EU nature restoration law, which will help to track our advancement. Now, we need to concentrate on application and partnership with member states to preserve our pollinating insects,” she said.
The publication of the evaluations of bees along with butterflies comes after the first European-wide evaluation of hoverflies, another vital pollinating insect category. Published in 2022, it disclosed that 37% of all hoverfly types in the European continent were at risk of extinction.
