The count of non-managed bee types in the European continent facing disappearance has more than doubled during the previous ten-year period, whereas the count of threatened butterfly species has nearly doubled.
This pressing issue for essential pollinating insects was revealed by research studies for the red list of threatened species, which determined that at least one hundred seventy-two bee species out of over 1900 were threatened with extinction in European nations.
The total of butterfly types at risk of extinction in Europe has grown from over thirty-five to sixty-five since the earlier research, carried out a decade and a half ago. One type, the Madeiran large white butterfly (Pieris wollastoni) has now been confirmed extinct.
Apart from their visual charm and cultural significance, pollinating species like bees and butterflies are crucial elements for our physical condition, our food systems and our economic systems – maintaining the produce, vegetables and seeds that sustain us,” commented Grethel Aguilar. “The latest European red list evaluations reveal significant difficulties, with threats increasing for butterfly species and crucial non-managed bee varieties.”
The causes of the quick recent decreases are the ongoing harm or degradation of habitats caused by farming intensification and land abandonment, draining of wetlands, livestock overgrazing, and the application of pesticides and fertilisers including neonicotinoids. The breaking up of pollinator-friendly habitat greatly increases the risk of extinctions at local level.
Global heating is also revealed to be a significant danger: 52% of all threatened butterfly species in Europe are imperilled by the climate crisis – about double the number as a previous decade.
Up to nine out of ten of plants that flower in European nations rely on animal pollination, as per the lead coordinator of the wild bee assessment. “Sadly, wild bee groups are in drastic decline and cannot be easily replaced by managed colonies,” he said. “If native bees disappear, many native plants might be in danger as well – of which meadows rich in flowers and attractive orchid varieties are just a handful of illustrations.”
Fifteen species of bumblebees, which play a crucial role in aiding the pollination of legumes like peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and 14 types of cellophane bee types, known for aiding tree pollination such as willows along with red maples, are now classified as threatened. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee exclusive to the mainland and the only species of this genus in the European continent, is now assessed as critically at risk – the scientific classification closest to disappearance in the wild.
Butterflies that are only found on mountain peaks are particularly vulnerable to global warming as they must ascend higher as their environments become hotter but eventually have no room left. In southern Spain, the Nevada grayling butterfly and the Andalusian anomalous blue are among above 40 percent of types unique to Europe (solely present in Europe) at risk of extinction.
In the Mediterranean area, varieties such as the highly at-risk Karpathos grayling butterfly are endangered by extreme wildfires and drought.
In the meantime, in the Arctic region, global heating is leading to the tree line to shift northward by many meters each year, with underbrush invading wetlands and tundra. Warmer conditions also mean Arctic deer can not anymore cross the ice sheets to feed on northern grasslands and keep them open. Eight butterfly species are facing extinction in this zone, including Freyja’s fritillary and the ringlet of the Arctic.
“The biggest environment for all these pollinating species is bloom-filled grassy areas and that is disappearing very fast throughout Europe because of all these factors,” remarked Martin Warren. “The positive thing is that so many citizens care now and there’s a lot more consciousness. Under the EU’s nature restoration regulation, all member states have to halt the decrease in pollinating species by twenty-thirty, and they are going to have to initiate measures. There are property owners who are engaged. We hope they can get the encouragements that will assist them on their way.”
As per Warren, there is “readily achievable actions” in terms of measures for pollinating species which will not lower crop yields – and might boost it – such as agricultural producers establishing margins rich in flowers around their cultivated areas.
EU commissioner for environment, portrayed the protection status of non-managed bees, butterfly species and other pollinating insects as “dire”.
“Urgent and collective action is necessary to address this danger. Along with participating nations, the European Commission has established an EU-wide tracking system for pollinating species based on the European Union nature restoration legislation, which will aid in following our advancement. Now, we need to prioritize application and cooperation with member states to preserve our pollinating insects,” she said.
The release of the evaluations of bees along with butterflies comes after the first Europe-wide study on hoverflies, a further essential pollinator group. Issued in twenty-twenty-two, it showed that thirty-seven percent of all hoverfly varieties in European nations were threatened with extinction.
