The count of native bee types in European nations facing disappearance has increased twofold in the last ten years, and the total of endangered butterfly has nearly doubled.
This critical situation for crucial pollinators was revealed by scientific studies for the red list of threatened species, which established that at least over 170 bee types 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 thirty-seven to 65 since the previous assessment, conducted 14 years ago. A single species, the Madeiran large white (Pieris wollastoni) has now been declared extinct.
“Beyond their beauty and cultural value, pollinators like bees and butterfly species are essential supports for our physical condition, our food chains and our financial structures – maintaining the fruits, vegetables and seeds that nourish us,” said Grethel Aguilar. “The most recent assessments of the European red list reveal serious challenges, with risks increasing for butterfly types and vital native bee varieties.”
The factors of the rapid recent declines are the continuing destruction or damage of habitats caused by agricultural intensification and abandoned land, wetland drainage, overgrazing by livestock, and the application of fertilisers and pesticides including neonicotinoid pesticides. The division of environments suitable for pollinators substantially boosts the threat of disappearances in specific areas.
Global heating is also shown to be a primary risk: Over half of all at-risk butterfly types in Europe are threatened by the climate emergency – approximately twofold the amount as a decade ago.
Up to ninety percent of blooming plants in the European continent rely on insect pollination, according to Dr Denis Michez. “Sadly, non-managed bee groups are in drastic decline and are not easily replaceable by domesticated hives,” he said. “If wild bees vanish, many non-cultivated plants might be threatened too – of which bloom-filled grasslands and beautiful orchid species are just a few examples.”
Fifteen types of bumblebee types, which perform a vital function in pollinating legumes like peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and 14 species of cellophane bees, recognized for fertilizing trees such as willows along with red maples, are now listed 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 evaluated as critically endangered – the scientific classification most akin to extinction in the wild.
Butterfly species that are only found on high-altitude areas are particularly vulnerable to global warming as they must ascend higher as their living spaces become more heated but in the end have no room left. In southern Spain, the Nevada grayling and the anomalous blue of Andalusia are among above 40 percent of types unique to Europe (solely present in Europe) at risk of extinction.
In the Mediterranean, varieties such as the severely threatened grayling of Karpathos are imperilled by intense wildfires and drought.
Meanwhile, in the Far North, climate change is leading to the forest boundary to advance northwards by tens of metres each year, with scrub invading wetlands and tundra. Warmer conditions also mean Arctic deer can no longer cross the ice sheets to feed on Arctic grasslands and keep them open. 8 butterfly varieties are facing extinction in this zone, including Freyja’s fritillary butterfly and the ringlet of the Arctic.
“The biggest environment for all these pollinating insects is flower-rich grassland and that is disappearing very fast throughout Europe because of all these reasons,” remarked a lead coordinator for the butterfly assessment. “The encouraging aspect is that so many citizens are aware now and there’s a lot more consciousness. Under the EU nature restoration legislation, all member states have to halt the drop in pollinators by twenty-thirty, and they are going to have to begin taking action. There are landowners who are engaged. Let’s hope they can get the incentives that will support them on their way.”
As stated by the coordinator, there is “easy opportunities” in terms of steps for pollinating insects which will not decrease agricultural output – and might boost it – such as agricultural producers developing bloom-filled edges around their farmland.
EU commissioner for environment, described the conservation status of wild bees, butterflies and other pollinators as “severe”.
“Prompt and unified steps is necessary to confront this threat. Along with member states, the European Commission has put in place an EU-wide monitoring system for pollinating species based on the European Union nature restoration legislation, which will help to track our progress. Now, we need to prioritize implementation and collaboration with member states to safeguard our pollinators,” she said.
The publication of the evaluations of bees along with butterflies follows the pioneering EU-wide study on hoverflies, a further essential pollinating insect category. Released in 2022, it disclosed that thirty-seven percent of all hoverfly species in European nations were facing extinction.
