The Hidden Peril of Insectageddon

To cool my home over the past few sweltering weeks, I’ve gone against what I thought was common sense, and only opened my windows at night when the air is colder.

To cool my home over the past few sweltering weeks, I’ve gone against what I thought was common sense, and only opened my windows at night when the air is colder. This was wisdom I never knew growing up because I didn’t really have to, (but sadly it is only one lesson I’ll need to learn as temperatures continue to worryingly rise). As I opened the last window on a recent nightly route around the house, I panicked. I had made the mistake of leaving a window ajar in a room with a light on. I had created a shining beacon for every flying insect in the local area; a glowing invite for every bug in my county to come in and spend the rest of the evening aimlessly buzzing around my kitchen. I was sure I only had moments before my house would be swarming with muddled mayflies and disoriented moths . Then I paused. I had been doing this all summer, and there had been no infestation. Not even a solitary uninvited daddy-long-legs. In my youth, I felt as if there were hordes of flying insects powerless to resist the allure of a bedroom light and gaping window. Now the night sky seemed completely void of any insects at all. “Are there really fewer insects now in the UK?” I asked myself. Sadly, yes. This observation was a version of the ‘windshield phenomenon’ - a commonly shared perception that today fewer insects are splattered against car windshields compared to previous decades. This belief suggests a decline in insect populations and the data backs this up. A 2021 survey by Bugs Matter - a citizen-science survey led by Buglife and Kent Wildlife Trust -  found that UK flying insects have declined by approximately 60% between 2021 and 2004, and these findings are consistent with global trends. Widespread losses of pollinators have been recorded across North America and Europe. There has been a 76% reduction in flying insect biomass in Germany. Europe’s butterfly population has fallen by between 30 to 50%. A growing number of reports are telling us insect populations are in freefall, and this is a cause for concern. The abundance of insects reflects the health of the environment, and the data paints a grim picture. Matt Shardlow, CEO of Buglife states it plainly, “This is terrifying.” Admittedly, the data on insect population is relatively thin, and certain insect species have also been observed to recover quickly. Most researchers are still concerned, however. A healthy insect population is essential for a healthy environment. Insects act as pollinators. They control pest populations and recycle organic material. Insects are a crucial part of our ecosystem, and their sharp decline has led to some scientists sounding the alarm bells. A 2019 global study found that the world’s insects are plunging towards extinction, threatening a widespread collapse in ecosystems. The best available data warns insects could disappear within a century. We face a potential insectageddon. There are multiple factors behind dwindling insect numbers. Intensive agriculture and the widespread use of pesticides are the driving force behind the decline, but climate change is a factor. Rising temperatures and more frequent extreme weather events have a harmful effect on insect populations. And both of these issues are accelerating further habitat loss for insects. Humanity must address insect decline urgently and demand action from our governments and councils.  Buglife also encourages you to sow wildflower seeds or leave a patch of your garden to grow wild to create a haven for insects. Collectively, it would probably make the biggest area of wildlife habitat in the world, the group said.