The UK is suffering from a catastrophic decline in insect numbers and it is believed that this is due to farming and climate change.
Research has been conducted by the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust. The researchers found that from 1970 to the end of 2019 there was a 37% decline in insects in general in the sample area which is a cereal crop field in Sussex. This field has been used consistently and so the comparison between 1970 and 2019 is very accurate.
The researchers said:
“The view is likely to be the same or worse across the country. The study is a robust indication of the national picture and is unique in that it samples invertebrates on the same area of farmland, at the same time of year, using the same methods.”
Some insects (invertebrates) have done worse than others. For example, ground beetles have dropped in population number by 80%. Ladybirds have declined by 78% and aphids which are at the base of the food chain, have dropped by 90%. Perhaps the last species is the most critical because if they are at the base of the food chain, they supply food for all the other invertebrates above them.
Julie Ewald, of the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust said that this highly concerning decline in insect numbers explains the loss of 73 million wild birds in the UK since 1970.
Birds down too
Bird species whose habitat is farmland, have shown the biggest overall decline in the UK at 62% of species decreasing in numbers. Many of the invertebrates studied provide food for chicks.
Toxins
An entomologist, Steve Mooreby who has worked on the study since 1981 said the use of pesticides was a major factor.
He added that, “While we have seen a decrease in insecticide use in the past 15 years, herbicide usage continues to increase and this has resulted in a decline of chick food insects with a knock-on effect on red-listed species such as partridge, skylark and yellowhammer”.
They added that while “farmers get a lot of bashing” they are often “responding to government policies” in order to boost crop yields.
Climate change
Another cause is climate change. The average daily mean temperature from April to June in the area studied increased by more than 1°C since 1970.
Government
The solution needs to come from government. Personally, I have not heard anything from the new government on this topic. Ewald said: “Government policy needs to be directed towards providing funding and advice to help farmers, and it would help a lot if big supermarkets didn’t push farmers to have everything grown the right shape or size. I would also advise the public to make choices about the provenance of the food they buy, to favour farms which help wildlife.”
The Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust has provided guidance for farmers who want to create an insect-rich environment. It advises cultivating wildflowers or rare species in margins and replanting hedges and creating beetle banks and other species-specific habitats.
My thanks to The Times newspaper for this information.
Herbicides
Herbicides are designed to target plants, not insects. However, they can still harm insects in a couple of indirect ways:
- Disrupting habitat and food sources: By killing weeds and other unwanted plants, herbicides can eliminate the insects’ food sources and nesting areas. This can have a ripple effect throughout the ecosystem, harming insect populations that rely on those plants.
- Weakening insect immune systems: Some studies have shown that herbicides, like glyphosate, can interfere with insects’ immune systems. This can make them more susceptible to diseases and parasites, ultimately leading to death.
It’s important to note that the impact of herbicides on insects can vary depending on the specific herbicide, the insect species, and the application method.
Letter to The Times’ editor
This is a nice follow-up to the article. Tom Howe wrote to The Times. He agrees with the falling number of insects in the UK. He recalled a journey he took to France. He said the following:
“My wife and I recently enjoyed a holiday in France, driving around the Loire Valley and Normandy, and were surprised to find it necessary to clean the car’s windscreen each morning to remove the large number of insects that had accumulated there. On our return to these shores, we drove to Yorkshire to visit friends. Even after the return journey there was only one insect that had met its end on our windscreen. Not scientific evidence, I admit, but compelling nonetheless.”
