A new report commissioned by a group of Wildlife Trusts concludes that drastic declines in insect numbers will have far-reaching consequences for wildlife and people, causing knock-on losses of insect eating birds, bats, and fish, whilst costing society many millions in lost revenue and broken ecosystems.
The positive message from this report is that we know why our pollinators and other insects are dying and that concerted action from government, local authorities, food growers and the public can reverse this unfolding disaster.
‘Insect declines and why they matter’ has been authored by invertebrate expert Dave Goulson, Professor of Biology at the University of Sussex.
Prof Goulson, author of the report, says:
“Insects make up the bulk of known species on Earth, and they are integral to the functioning of terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems, performing vital roles such as pollination, seed dispersal and nutrient cycling. They are also food for numerous larger animals, including birds, bats, fish, amphibians and lizards. If we allow insects to continue to decline there will be profound consequences for all life on Earth, including ourselves.
It is not just our wild bees and other pollinators that are declining – these trends are mirrored across a great many of the species whose populations are being monitored. Maybe even more concerning are the huge knowledge gaps; we know little about the fate of many of the more obscure invertebrates that are also crucial to healthy ecosystems.
What we do know however is that the main causes of decline include habitat loss and fragmentation, and the overuse of pesticides. Wild insects are routinely exposed to complex cocktails of toxins mixed together, which can cause death or sublethal effects such as disorientation and weakened immune and digestive systems.”
The report highlights the main reasons why our pollinators and other insects are dying
Habitat loss. The report says:
“Over the last century, natural and semi-natural habitats have been cleared at an accelerating rate to make way for farming, roads, housing estates, factories, lorry parks, golf courses, shopping centres and a multitude of other human endeavours…[Today] many important insect populations [only] persist on small, highly fragmented and isolated islands of habitat.”
Pesticides. The report says:
“c.17,000 tons of poison [is] broadcast across the [UK’s] landscape each year.”
Much of this is associated with intensive farming, but the report also highlights the destructive capacity of domestic usage, where “numerous insecticides, fungicides and herbicides are freely available from garden centres, DIY stores and even supermarkets.”