https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decline_in_insect_populations
'An increasing number of scientific studies are reporting substantial declines
in insect populations worldwide. Most commonly, the declines involve reductions
in abundance, though in some cases entire species are going extinct. The
declines are far from uniform. In some localities, there have been reports of
increases in overall insect population, and some types of insects appear to be
increasing in abundance across the world.
Some of the insects most affected include bees, butterflies, moths, beetles,
dragonflies and damselflies. Anecdotal evidence has been offered of much
greater apparent abundance of insects in the 20th century; recollections of the
windscreen phenomenon are an example.
Possible causes are similar to other biodiversity loss, with studies
identifying: habitat destruction, including intensive agriculture; the use of
pesticides (particularly insecticides); urbanization, and industrialization;
introduced species; and climate change. Not all insect orders are affected in
the same way; many groups are the subject of limited research, and comparative
figures from earlier decades are often not available.
In response to the reported declines, increased insect related conservation
measures have been launched. In 2018 the German government initiated an "Action
Programme for Insect Protection", and in 2019 a group of 27 British
entomologists and ecologists wrote an open letter calling on the research
establishment in the UK "to enable intensive investigation of the real threat
of ecological disruption caused by insect declines without delay".'
Via Diane A.
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
