Kent Wildlife Trust's bug survey reveals 'alarming' decline
A survey tracking the "staggering" decline in insect numbers across the UK and Ireland has begun.The Bugs Matter survey, led by Kent Wildlife Trust and invertebrate charity Buglife, runs from 1 May to 30 September each year and sees "citizen scientists" record the number of bug splats on their vehicle number plates after a journey.The results from 2024 found the number of flying insect splats recorded across the UK had fallen by 63% since 2021. Ireland was not included in last year's survey but will take part this year.Dr Lawrence Ball, from Kent Wildlife Trust, said the decline could perhaps be linked to "the extreme climate in the UK in recent years".
Insects play a vital role in the ecosystem by pollinating crops, providing natural pest control, decomposing waste and underpinning food chains that support birds, mammals and other wildlife.
Curve may flatten
Dr Ball said: "Without insects, the planet's ecological systems would collapse so this huge decrease in insect splats over such a short time is really alarming."Bug splats declined 8% in 2024, following sharper drops of 44% in 2023 and 28% in 2022.Dr Ball said the slowing rate of decline shows the curve may flatten or even reverse next year.More than 25,000 journeys have been analysed as part of the survey since 2021.
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Kent Wildlife Trust's bug survey reveals 'alarming' decline
A survey tracking the "staggering" decline in insect numbers across the UK and Ireland has Bugs Matter survey, led by Kent Wildlife Trust and invertebrate charity Buglife, runs from 1 May to 30 September each year and sees "citizen scientists" record the number of bug splats on their vehicle number plates after a results from 2024 found the number of flying insect splats recorded across the UK had fallen by 63% since 2021. Ireland was not included in last year's survey but will take part this Lawrence Ball, from Kent Wildlife Trust, said the decline could perhaps be linked to "the extreme climate in the UK in recent years". Insects play a vital role in the ecosystem by pollinating crops, providing natural pest control, decomposing waste and underpinning food chains that support birds, mammals and other wildlife. Curve may flatten Dr Ball said: "Without insects, the planet's ecological systems would collapse so this huge decrease in insect splats over such a short time is really alarming."Bug splats declined 8% in 2024, following sharper drops of 44% in 2023 and 28% in Ball said the slowing rate of decline shows the curve may flatten or even reverse next than 25,000 journeys have been analysed as part of the survey since 2021.
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Insects: 'Worrying' decline of crucial insects in NI, says charity
The decline of insects in Northern Ireland is "worrying", a charity has carries out a Bugs Matter "splat survey" every year, where people count the number of insects on a car licence plate after a journey and record the figure on an latest results in Northern Ireland show the abundance of flying insects in the countryside has fallen by 55% since 2021, but the rate of decline has across all the UK nations, the number of insect splats has fallen by 63%. The survey is expanding into the Republic of Ireland from this opened on Wednesday. 'If you like to eat, then you like our insects' Hannah Fullerton from Buglife in Northern Ireland said insects are crucial to our wellbeing."I like to remind people that, if you like to eat, then you like our insects."They also do other handy things, like they'll break down wood or leaves lying around and they help feed our mammals."And while we might be enjoying the unseasonably warm weather, she said it can pose a risk to our insect populations."Whenever the nice sunny weather comes out, our insects come out and think, great, it's time to get to work," said Hannah."And then suddenly, it begins to rain, the temperature starts to drop and that can have devastating effects for our invertebrates because they've come out of hibernation."This is resulting from climate change as well, which is a big issue that we're suffering from as well as herbicides and pesticides over-uses." The annual five-month long survey is led by Kent Wildlife Trust."This huge decrease in insect splats over such a short time is really alarming," said Dr Lawrence Ball from the Trust."It's most likely that we are seeing the compounding effects of both a background rate of decline as well as a short-term cycle of decline, perhaps linked to the extreme climate in recent years."Hopefully, splats up 6% on last year indicates a slowing decline."A larger sample of journeys from Northern Ireland will help to reveal the overall trend." Help let nature heal itself Extending the survey into the Republic of Ireland is "a crucial next step", said Rebecca Lewis from Buglife NI."To gather data on the health of insect populations on an all-Ireland basis will provide essential data to support future nature restoration efforts."Planting wildflowers, letting weeds grow and leaving some wood or small piles of stones in our gardens can help support our vulnerable insects, like solitary bees, said Hannah."If we get nature back it'll help look after itself."
