The count of wild bee species in European nations confronting extinction has more than doubled during the previous ten-year period, whereas the count of endangered butterfly has close to doubled.
This critical situation for vital pollinating species was revealed by research studies for the red list of threatened species, which found that at least 172 bee varieties out of 1,928 were facing extinction in the European continent.
The count of butterfly species threatened with extinction in Europe has risen from thirty-seven to over sixty since the earlier research, performed a decade and a half ago. One species, the Madeiran large white (Pieris wollastoni) has now been declared extinct.
“Beyond their beauty and cultural significance, pollinating species like bees and butterflies are lifelines for our physical condition, our food supplies and our economies – sustaining the produce, vegetables and seeds that nourish us,” said the IUCN’s director general. “The latest European red list evaluations reveal major obstacles, with dangers increasing for butterfly species and vital wild bee varieties.”
The reasons of the swift recent drops are the persistent destruction or damage of natural habitats caused by farming intensification and abandoned land, draining of wetlands, overgrazing by livestock, and the application of fertilisers and pesticides including neonicotinoid chemicals. The division of pollinator-friendly habitat greatly increases the risk of local extinctions.
Global warming is also demonstrated to be a primary risk: Fifty-two percent of all threatened butterflies in Europe are endangered by the climate change crisis – roughly twice as many as a ten years ago.
As many as 90% of flowering plants in the European continent require animal pollination, as per Dr Denis Michez. “Unfortunately, non-managed bee colonies are in sharp decrease and are not easily replaceable by managed colonies,” he said. “If non-managed bees disappear, many wild plants might be threatened too – of which meadows rich in flowers and beautiful orchid species are just a couple of instances.”
15 varieties of bumblebees, which perform a vital function in aiding the pollination of peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and fourteen varieties of cellophane bees, famous for pollinating trees such as willows along with red maples, are now categorized as at-risk. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee type exclusive to the continent and the sole species of this biological genus in European nations, is now assessed as critically endangered – the scientific classification nearest to disappearance in the wild.
Butterfly species that are solely present on mountain tops are particularly vulnerable to climate change as they have to climb upward as their living spaces become hotter but in the end run out of space. In southern Spain, the Nevada grayling and the Andalusian anomalous blue are among above 40 percent of species endemic to Europe (only found in Europe) at risk of extinction.
In the Mediterranean, varieties such as the highly at-risk Karpathos grayling butterfly are imperilled by severe wildfires and drought.
At the same time, in the Arctic region, global heating is resulting in the tree line to shift northward by tens of metres each year, with scrub taking over marsh and tundra. Higher temperatures also mean Arctic deer can no more cross the ice sheets to browse Arctic meadows and keep them open. Eight types of butterflies are threatened with extinction in this region, including Freyja’s fritillary butterfly and the Arctic ringlet.
“The largest living space for all these pollinating species is grassland rich in flowers and that is disappearing very fast in European nations because of all these elements,” said a lead coordinator for the butterfly assessment. “The encouraging aspect is that so many citizens care now and there’s a lot more awareness. Under the European Union nature restoration law, all member states have to reverse the decline in pollinating species by 2030, and they are going to have to initiate measures. There are property owners who are involved. It is hoped they can get the encouragements that will help them on their way.”
As per the coordinator, there is “readily achievable actions” in terms of steps for pollinators which won’t reduce food production – and might boost it – such as farmers establishing bloom-filled edges around their fields.
EU commissioner for environment, described the conservation status of wild bees, butterflies and other pollinators as “severe”.
“Immediate and joint measures is needed to address this danger. Along with participating nations, the European Commission has established an European Union-wide tracking system for pollinating insects based on the EU nature restoration law, which will help to track our development. Now, we need to concentrate on execution and collaboration with member countries to protect our pollinating insects,” she said.
The issuance of the evaluations of bees along with butterflies comes after the first Europe-wide assessment of hoverflies, another essential group of pollinators. Published in twenty-twenty-two, it revealed that thirty-seven percent of all hoverfly species in European nations were threatened with extinction.
