Latest news with #LawrenceBall
BBC News
03-05-2025
- Science
- BBC News
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.
Daily Tribune
02-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Tribune
UK scientists fear insect loss as car bug splats fall
A UK-wide decline in bug splats recorded on car number plates indicates an "alarming" fall in the number of flying insects, UK scientists said in a survey published yesterday. The 2024 Bugs Matter report revealed the numbers of flying insects found stuck to vehicle number plates had dropped by nearly 63 percent since 2021. Flying insects play a vital role in maintaining a healthy environment, as a food source for birds and other wildlife species, as well as acting as pollinators for crops and keeping pests under control. The survey, led by Kent Wildlife Trust and charity Buglife, relies on citizen scientists who log their journeys and record the number of insect splats found on the front number plate of their cars. Analysis of more than 25,000 journeys showed a sharp decline in splats across the UK between 2021 and 2024. This included a 44-percent drop between 2022 and 2023, slowing down to an eight percent decline from 2023 to 2024. "This huge decrease in insect splats over such a short time is really alarming," said Lawrence Ball, a conservation scientist at Kent Wildlife Trust. According to Ball, the decrease is a result of a general-long term decline in insect numbers compounded by a short-term decline which is "perhaps linked to the extreme climate in the UK in recent years". "Similar declining insect trends have been reported by many other scientific studies around the world," according to the survey report. Scientists say the decline is driven by human activity, including habitat loss, pesticide use, land and water pollution, and climate change. The latest data "suggests that the abundance of flying insects in our countryside has fallen again," said Andrew Whitehouse from Buglife. The report noted 60 percent fewer bug splats on average in urban areas, compared to the countryside, "highlighting the impact we have had on nature in our towns and cities". The Bugs Matter survey is based on the "windscreen phenomenon", an anecdotal observation that people are finding fewer insect splats on their windscreens compared to before.
Malay Mail
01-05-2025
- Science
- Malay Mail
Bug splats dwindle: UK survey shows 63pc decline in flying insects since 2021, raising fears over biodiversity loss
LONDON, May 1 — A UK-wide decline in bug splats recorded on car number plates indicates an 'alarming' fall in the number of flying insects, UK scientists said in a survey published yesterday. The 2024 Bugs Matter report revealed the numbers of flying insects found stuck to vehicle number plates had dropped by nearly 63 per cent since 2021. Flying insects play a vital role in maintaining a healthy environment, as a food source for birds and other wildlife species, as well as acting as pollinators for crops and keeping pests under control. The survey, led by Kent Wildlife Trust and charity Buglife, relies on citizen scientists who log their journeys and record the number of insect splats found on the front number plate of their cars. Analysis of more than 25,000 journeys showed a sharp decline in splats across the UK between 2021 and 2024. This included a 44-per cent drop between 2022 and 2023, slowing down to an eight per cent decline from 2023 to 2024. 'This huge decrease in insect splats over such a short time is really alarming,' said Lawrence Ball, a conservation scientist at Kent Wildlife Trust. According to Ball, the decrease is a result of a general-long term decline in insect numbers compounded by a short-term decline which is 'perhaps linked to the extreme climate in the UK in recent years'. 'Similar declining insect trends have been reported by many other scientific studies around the world,' according to the survey report. Scientists say the decline is driven by human activity, including habitat loss, pesticide use, land and water pollution, and climate change. The latest data 'suggests that the abundance of flying insects in our countryside has fallen again,' said Andrew Whitehouse from Buglife. The report noted 60 per cent fewer bug splats on average in urban areas, compared to the countryside, 'highlighting the impact we have had on nature in our towns and cities'. The Bugs Matter survey is based on the 'windscreen phenomenon', an anecdotal observation that people are finding fewer insect splats on their windscreens compared to before. This year's survey will run from May 1 to September 30, and is expanding to Ireland for the first time. Residents can take part by recording journeys on an app. — AFP
eNCA
01-05-2025
- Health
- eNCA
UK scientists fear insect loss as car bug splats fall
LONDON - A UK-wide decline in bug splats recorded on car number plates indicates an "alarming" fall in the number of flying insects, UK scientists said in a survey. The 2024 Bugs Matter report revealed the numbers of flying insects found stuck to vehicle number plates had dropped by nearly 63 percent since 2021. Flying insects play a vital role in maintaining a healthy environment, as a food source for birds and other wildlife species, as well as acting as pollinators for crops and keeping pests under control. The survey, led by Kent Wildlife Trust and charity Buglife, relies on citizen scientists who log their journeys and record the number of insect splats found on the front number plate of their cars. Analysis of more than 25,000 journeys showed a sharp decline in splats across the UK between 2021 and 2024. This included a 44 percent drop between 2022 and 2023, slowing down to an eight percent decline from 2023 to 2024. "This huge decrease in insect splats over such a short time is really alarming," said Lawrence Ball, a conservation scientist at Kent Wildlife Trust. According to Ball, the decrease is a result of a general-long term decline in insect numbers compounded by a short-term decline which is "perhaps linked to the extreme climate in the UK in recent years". "Similar declining insect trends have been reported by many other scientific studies around the world," according to the survey report. Scientists say the decline is driven by human activity, including habitat loss, pesticide use, land and water pollution, and climate change. The latest data "suggests that the abundance of flying insects in our countryside has fallen again," said Andrew Whitehouse from Buglife. The report noted 60 percent fewer bug splats on average in urban areas, compared to the countryside, "highlighting the impact we have had on nature in our towns and cities". The Bugs Matter survey is based on the "windscreen phenomenon", an anecdotal observation that people are finding fewer insect splats on their windscreens compared to before. This year's survey will run from May 1 to September 30, and is expanding to Ireland for the first time. Residents can take part by recording journeys on an app.
Straits Times
30-04-2025
- Science
- Straits Times
UK scientists fear insect loss as car bug splats fall
The number of flying insects found stuck to vehicle number plates in Britain has dropped by nearly 63 per cent since 2021. PHOTO: REUTERS LONDON - A UK-wide decline in bug splats recorded on car number plates indicates an 'alarming' fall in the number of flying insects, UK scientists said in a survey published on April 30. The 2024 Bugs Matter report revealed the number of flying insects found stuck to vehicle number plates had dropped by nearly 63 per cent since 2021. Flying insects play a vital role in maintaining a healthy environment, as a food source for birds and other wildlife species, as well as acting as pollinators for crops and keeping pests under control. The survey, led by Kent Wildlife Trust and charity Buglife, relies on citizen scientists who log their journeys and record the number of insect splats found on the front number plate of their cars. Analysis of more than 25,000 journeys showed a sharp decline in splats across the UK between 2021 and 2024. This included a 44 per cent drop between 2022 and 2023, slowing down to an 8 per cent decline from 2023 to 2024. 'This huge decrease in insect splats over such a short time is really alarming,' said Dr Lawrence Ball, a conservation scientist at Kent Wildlife Trust. According to Dr Ball, the decrease is a result of a general-long term decline in insect numbers compounded by a short-term decline which is 'perhaps linked to the extreme climate in the UK in recent years'. 'Similar declining insect trends have been reported by many other scientific studies around the world,' according to the survey report. Scientists say the decline is driven by human activity, including habitat loss, pesticide use, land and water pollution, and climate change. The latest data 'suggests that the abundance of flying insects in our countryside has fallen again,' said Mr Andrew Whitehouse, of Buglife. The report noted 60 per cent fewer bug splats on average in urban areas, compared to the countryside, 'highlighting the impact we have had on nature in our towns and cities'. The Bugs Matter survey is based on the 'windscreen phenomenon', an anecdotal observation that people are finding fewer insect splats on their windscreens compared to before. This year's survey will run from May 1 to Sept 30, and is expanding to Ireland for the first time. Residents can take part by recording journeys on an app. AFP Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
