With up to 30 million species, insects are not just pests. They are crucial for the planet and our food supply. But each year, the number of insects that fly over, crawl or burrow in some parts of the planet is reduced. “And why are flies so important?” Some may ask. Basically because without them there would be no chocolate and probably no ice cream either, because they pollinate both cocoa and the plants that feed dairy cows. A world without insects is a world we don’t want to live in, yet we don’t seem to pay much attention to these critters, even as many of them are nearing extinction.
Reports show that insects, in general, are rapidly declining. Avoiding this apocalypse starts with understanding why these famously uncharismatic creatures matter.
The crisis of biodiversity. Some populations have declined by more than 70% in just a few decades, scientists reveal in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS). Dozens of insect experts contributed to a series of reports in the magazine on how they’re faring around the world, for better or worse. And yes, pretty bad. The data indicates an alarming decline in numbers in all parts of the world, with losses of up to 25% per decade.
Reports of the rapid and widespread decline of insects around the world have caused great concern to scientists. The creatures are among the most abundant and diverse species on the planet and perform key functions, from soil aeration to pollination and nutrient recycling. Case studies, such as one of the nature reserves in western Germany, indicated an abysmal decline, with a decline of around 75% in 27 years.
The tendency. Based on data from 166 long-term surveys in 1,676 locations, this latest study indicates that grasshoppers are one of the species that has suffered the most significant declines The compilation indicates that insects such as butterflies, ants and grasshoppers are declining by 0.92% per year, which is equivalent to 9% per decade. “That’s extremely serious, for 30 years it means a quarter less insects,” said lead author Dr Roel Van Klink of the German Center for Integrative Biodiversity Research.
We are not aware. It’s true. How can we, ordinary people, realize what is happening in the world of insects? Many people had a knee-jerk perception that bugs were declining, often informed by the so-called “windshield phenomenon,” in which fewer dead bugs are found splattered on cars. But it is that even the researchers say that it is something real.
Where? Losses are heaviest in the western and midwestern US and in Europe, especially Germany. And trends have become more negative in recent years, with the biggest drops since 2005. However, while many terrestrial species are declining, the new study shows that insects that live in freshwater, such as mosquitoes and mayflies , are growing 1.08% per year.
This positive trend was strong in Northern Europe, the Western US and since the 1990s in Russia and is probably due to new legislation on clean water.
Why? Scientists say there is no definitive evidence of insect decline, but they see the destruction of natural habitats due to urbanization as the key. This finding about habitat destruction has been echoed in other major biodiversity research. Threats range from deforestation, climate change, and invasive species to industrialized agriculture and even light pollution. “Death by a thousand cuts,” is how David Wagner, an entomologist at the University of Connecticut, put it.
The overall picture is complex: even in close geographic areas, some insects can do well alongside members of the same species that are struggling to survive. Ann Swengel, a scientist, has spent more than 30 years studying butterflies. “We’ve seen a lot of decline, even in many protected sites,” she explained.
The importance. Abundant insect populations are vital for many reasons, ranging from how they support the world’s food supply to how they create flowers through pollination. Although most of us would prefer not to encounter many of the planet’s tiniest creatures, their role in our lives cannot be underestimated. Insects, like every part of the natural world, are declining, yes. But it’s not too late yet.
Image: Unsplash