The total of non-managed bee varieties in Europe confronting dying out has increased twofold during the previous ten-year period, while the count of endangered butterfly species has almost doubled.
This dire scenario for vital pollinating insects was unveiled by scientific studies for the red list of threatened species, which established that at least over 170 bee species out of 1,928 were threatened with extinction in European nations.
The count of butterfly types threatened with extinction in the European continent has increased from thirty-seven to over sixty since the previous assessment, carried out 14 years ago. One species, the Madeiran large white (Pieris wollastoni) has now been classified as extinct.
“Beyond their beauty and cultural value, pollinators like bees and butterfly species are crucial elements for our physical condition, our food supplies and our economic systems – sustaining the fruits, veggies and seeds that sustain us,” commented the IUCN’s director general. “The latest assessments of the European red list reveal major obstacles, with threats mounting for butterfly species and crucial wild bee types.”
The causes of the swift recent drops are the continuing damage or destruction of natural habitats caused by farming intensification and deserted farmland, draining wetlands, livestock overgrazing, and the utilization of chemical fertilisers and pesticides including neonicotinoid chemicals. The breaking up of environments suitable for pollinators substantially boosts the danger of disappearances in specific areas.
Global warming is also shown to be a major threat: Over half of all threatened butterflies in the European continent are threatened by the climate emergency – approximately twofold the amount as a decade ago.
As many as ninety percent of flowering plants in European nations depend on insect pollination, as per the wild bee assessment’s lead coordinator. “Unfortunately, non-managed bee colonies are in drastic decline and cannot be easily replaced by managed colonies,” he said. “If non-managed bees disappear, many wild plants might be at risk too – of which bloom-filled grasslands and lovely orchid types are just a few examples.”
15 varieties of bumblebees, which have an essential part in aiding the pollination of crops such as peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and fourteen varieties of cellophane bee species, recognized for pollinating trees such as willows along with red maples, are now listed as threatened. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee exclusive to the mainland and the sole species of this genus group in Europe, is now assessed as critically at risk – the scientific classification nearest to extinction in the wild.
Butterflies that are exclusively located on mountain peaks are particularly vulnerable to climate change as they must ascend higher as their living spaces become warmer but eventually have no room left. In southern Spain, the grayling of Nevada and the Andalusian anomalous blue butterfly are among over forty percent of species endemic to Europe (only found in Europe) facing extinction.
In the Mediterranean region, varieties such as the critically endangered Karpathos grayling butterfly are endangered by extreme drought and wildfires.
In the meantime, in the Far North, global heating is leading to the tree line to advance northwards by tens of metres each year, with underbrush encroaching on marsh and tundra. Higher temperatures also mean caribou can no more cross the ice sheets to graze Arctic meadows and prevent them from overgrowing. 8 butterfly varieties are threatened with extinction in this zone, including the fritillary of Freyja and the ringlet of the Arctic.
“The greatest environment for all these pollinators is grassland rich in flowers and that is vanishing rapidly in Europe because of all these factors,” remarked a lead coordinator for the butterfly assessment. “The encouraging aspect is that so many individuals are concerned now and there’s a lot more awareness. Under the EU nature restoration legislation, all member states have to reverse the decline in pollinating insects by twenty-thirty, and they are going to have to start doing something. There are land holders who are interested. We hope they can obtain the motivations that will assist them on their way.”
According to Warren, there is “readily achievable actions” in terms of steps for pollinators which won’t reduce agricultural output – and might boost it – such as agricultural producers establishing margins rich in flowers around their farmland.
EU commissioner for environment, characterized the protection status of non-managed bees, butterfly species and other pollinating insects as “dire”.
“Immediate and joint measures is required to address this threat. In collaboration with member countries, the European Commission has established an EU-wide tracking system for pollinating species based on the European Union nature restoration legislation, which will help to track our development. Now, we need to prioritize application and collaboration with member countries to preserve our pollinating insects,” she said.
The publication of the bee and butterfly assessments is subsequent to the first European-wide evaluation of hoverflies, an additional essential pollinator group. Issued in twenty-twenty-two, it revealed that over one-third of all hoverfly species in Europe were facing extinction.
