The number of non-managed bee types in the European continent facing disappearance has over doubled during the previous ten-year period, while the total of at-risk butterfly species has almost doubled.
This critical situation for crucial pollinating species was disclosed by research studies for the red list of threatened species, which determined that at least one hundred seventy-two bee types out of over 1900 were threatened with extinction in the European continent.
The number of butterflies threatened with extinction in European nations has risen from 37 to sixty-five since the earlier research, performed a decade and a half ago. One type, the large white of Madeira (Pieris wollastoni) has now been declared extinct.
Apart from their visual charm and cultural significance, pollinating insects like bees and butterflies are essential supports for our physical condition, our food chains and our financial structures – maintaining the fruits, veggies and seeds that sustain us,” said Grethel Aguilar. “The newest assessments of the European red list reveal significant difficulties, with risks growing for butterflies and crucial native bee varieties.”
The factors of the quick recent decreases are the continuing harm or degradation of living environments caused by intensive agriculture and abandoned land, draining of wetlands, livestock overgrazing, and the application of chemical fertilisers and pesticides including neonicotinoid chemicals. The fragmentation of habitat friendly to pollinators significantly raises the danger of extinctions at local level.
Global warming is also shown to be a significant danger: Over half of all at-risk butterflies in the European continent are threatened by the climate change crisis – about twice as many as a decade ago.
Nearly nine out of ten of blooming plants in Europe depend on insect pollination, according to the lead coordinator of the wild bee assessment. “Sadly, wild bee populations are in drastic decline and are not easily replaceable by managed colonies,” he said. “If wild bees die out, many wild plants might be in danger as well – of which bloom-filled grasslands and lovely orchid types are just a handful of illustrations.”
15 varieties of bumblebee types, which have an essential part in fertilizing crops such as peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and 14 types of cellophane bee types, recognized for pollinating trees such as willow trees and red maples, are now listed as threatened. Simpanurgus phyllopodus, a mining bee species found only in the European continent and the single type of this biological genus in the European continent, is now evaluated as critically endangered – the research category most akin to extinction in the wild.
Butterfly species that are only found on mountain tops are especially at risk to global warming as they need to move uphill as their living spaces become more heated but eventually exhaust available space. In the southern part of Spain, the grayling of Nevada and the Andalusian anomalous blue are among above 40 percent of European endemics (only found in Europe) at risk of extinction.
In the Mediterranean area, types such as the highly at-risk Karpathos grayling butterfly are threatened by intense wildfires and drought.
At the same time, in the Arctic Circle, global warming is causing the tree line to move north by tens of metres each year, with scrub taking over marsh and tundra. Warmer conditions also mean reindeer can not anymore cross the frozen water to graze northern grasslands and keep them open. Eight butterfly species are facing extinction in this region, including the fritillary of Freyja and the ringlet of the Arctic.
“The largest environment for all these pollinating insects is bloom-filled grassy areas and that is declining quickly throughout Europe because of all these reasons,” stated Martin Warren. “The positive thing is that so many people care now and there’s a lot more awareness. Under the EU’s nature restoration regulation, all member states have to turn around the decrease in pollinating species by 2030, and they are going to have to initiate measures. There are land holders who are involved. We hope they can receive the incentives that will help them on their way.”
According to the coordinator, there is “low-hanging fruit” in terms of action for pollinating insects which will not decrease crop yields – and may enhance it – such as agricultural producers establishing flower-rich margins around their fields.
the EU’s environment commissioner, described the preservation condition of non-managed bees, butterfly species and other pollinating insects as “dire”.
“Urgent and collective action is needed to address this danger. Together with participating nations, the European Commission has implemented an Europe-wide monitoring system for pollinating insects based on the European Union nature restoration legislation, which will assist in monitoring our development. Now, we need to concentrate on execution and collaboration with member states to protect our pollinating species,” she said.
The issuance of the assessments on bees and butterflies is subsequent to the pioneering EU-wide study on hoverflies, an additional essential pollinator group. Issued in twenty-twenty-two, it disclosed that thirty-seven percent of all hoverfly species in the European continent were at risk of extinction.
