You may think that insects are scary and annoying pests. They can be sometimes, but their job is very big and helps the planet big time. So why are we talking about them? Because their population is going down, and this could mean catastrophes for the planet. 

Insects’ Jobs 

Insects do much more than we may think. They keep the world running by pollinating flowering plants, keeping them alive, decomposing dead organisms, controlling pests (without chemicals), providing food for other animals up the food chain, and keeping the soil nice and fertile. Without insects, a healthy food chain would be history and the world’s ecosystems would be a mess. Biologist Edward O. Wilson says, “…if insects were to vanish, the environment would collapse into chaos.” 

The Decline of Insects 

Insects are declining faster than you may think, and in pretty much every place you go. Here are some examples. According to a study led by Martin Sorg, the head curator of the Entomological Society of Krefeld, he and his colleagues found out that the amount of flying insects in protected places in Germany have dropped by 76% from 1989-2016.¹ In the Netherlands, a study of butterflies shows that their population has dropped by 85% since the 1800s.¹ In Chile and Argentina, Patagonian bumblebees used to be common, but unfortunately, their populations have plummeted.¹ Bombus afffinis, a rusty patched bumblebee was common in the Midwest and northeastern U.S, and native there, too, but their populations have dropped so much that they are now on the endangered list.¹ In the upper Midwestern U.S, a study of mayflies shows that their populations have dropped by 50% since 2012.¹ Insect populations are dropping faster than any other species, as well.¹ There are many other facts like these showing the drop of insect populations.

Why the Drop and What We Can Do 

Nobody is certain why insect populations are dropping so much, but people have guesses. It could be climate change, or it could be pesticides and insects losing their habitat. If it is climate change, then we should take action to prevent and reduce emissions and take action for the Earth If it is pesticides or the disappearance of of habitat then we should act in regional or local areas.We could also do both! So to protect theses insects, next time you see one in your house, let it outside! 🕷 🐜 🐞 🌳

 1 National Geographic, 5/2020, “Where Have All The Insects Gone?”