The count of native bee varieties in Europe experiencing disappearance has more than doubled in the last ten years, whereas the count of endangered butterfly has nearly doubled.
This dire scenario for essential pollinating species was unveiled by scientific assessments for the red list of threatened species, which determined that at least 172 bee varieties out of nearly two thousand were at risk of extinction in the European continent.
The count of butterfly species at risk of extinction in Europe has increased from over thirty-five to sixty-five since the earlier research, conducted 14 years ago. One species, the large white of Madeira (Pieris wollastoni) has now been classified as extinct.
“Beyond their aesthetic appeal and cultural value, pollinators like bees along with butterflies are crucial elements for our well-being, our food chains and our financial structures – supporting the fruits, veggies and seeds that nourish us,” stated Grethel Aguilar. “The latest European red list evaluations reveal serious challenges, with dangers growing for butterfly species and essential native bee varieties.”
The factors of the quick recent decreases are the continuing damage or destruction of natural habitats caused by farming intensification and deserted farmland, wetland drainage, livestock overgrazing, and the application of pesticides and fertilisers including neonicotinoid pesticides. The division of habitat friendly to pollinators significantly raises the threat of disappearances in specific areas.
Climate change is also demonstrated to be a major threat: 52% of all endangered butterfly types in European nations are endangered by the climate change crisis – roughly double the number as a decade ago.
Up to 90% of flowering plants in the European continent rely on animal pollination, as stated by Dr Denis Michez. “Regrettably, wild bee populations are in severe drop and cannot be easily replaced by managed bee colonies,” he said. “If wild bees disappear, many wild plants might be in danger as well – of which bloom-filled grasslands and beautiful orchid species are just a couple of instances.”
15 varieties of bumblebee species, which play a crucial role in aiding the pollination of legumes like peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and 14 types of cellophane bee species, known for fertilizing trees such as willows along with red maples, are now classified as threatened. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee found only in the European continent and the sole species of this genus group in the European continent, is now classified as critically at risk – the research category nearest to disappearance in the wild.
Butterfly types that are solely present on mountain peaks are highly susceptible to global heating as they need to move uphill as their living spaces become more heated but ultimately run out of space. In the southern part of Spain, the Nevada grayling butterfly and the Andalusian anomalous blue butterfly are among above 40 percent of European endemics (solely present in Europe) at risk of extinction.
In the Mediterranean, types such as the highly at-risk Karpathos grayling are imperilled by severe wildfires and drought.
In the meantime, in the Far North, global warming is causing the timberline to advance northwards by dozens of meters each year, with underbrush invading marsh and tundra. Warmer conditions also mean reindeer can no more cross the ice sheets to feed on Arctic meadows and keep them open. 8 butterfly varieties are threatened with extinction in this area, including Freyja’s fritillary butterfly and the Arctic ringlet.
“The greatest habitat for all these pollinating species is grassland rich in flowers and that is declining quickly in European nations because of all these factors,” said a lead coordinator for the butterfly assessment. “The positive thing is that so many people are concerned now and there’s a lot more understanding. Under the EU’s nature restoration regulation, 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. Let’s hope they can get the incentives that will help them on their way.”
According to Martin Warren, there is “low-hanging fruit” in terms of steps for pollinators which will not decrease crop yields – and might boost it – such as farmers establishing bloom-filled edges around their fields.
EU commissioner for environment, described the protection status of native bees, butterflies and additional pollinators as “critical”.
“Urgent and collective action is required to confront this danger. Together with member states, the Commission of the European Union has put in place an EU-wide tracking system for pollinators based on the EU nature restoration regulation, which will assist in monitoring our development. Now, we need to concentrate on application and cooperation with participating nations to protect our pollinators,” she said.
The release of the assessments on bees and butterflies follows the pioneering European-wide evaluation of hoverflies, an additional essential pollinator group. Published in twenty-twenty-two, it showed that thirty-seven percent of all hoverfly types in Europe were at risk of extinction.
