Alarming Decline of Insect Populations Documented in New Survey

The annual Bugs Matter 'splat survey' has revealed alarming declines in insect populations across Northern Ireland, with flying insects on vehicle license plates dropping by more than half over the past five years.

According to the invertebrate charity Buglife, which collaborates with Kent Wildlife Trust on the survey, the findings indicate a potentially catastrophic decline, with an average annual fall of eight percent.

In Northern Ireland, the five-year decline was recorded at fifty-six percent, which is comparable to Wales at fifty-five percent but less steep than in England at sixty percent and Scotland at fifty-nine percent.

Rebecca Lewis, the Scotland and Northern Ireland manager for Buglife, stated that despite favorable weather conditions during spring and summer, the survey documented a significant decline for the fifth consecutive year.

She emphasized the critical role insects play in maintaining healthy ecosystems, which include essential services like soil health, clean rivers, and crop pollination. Lewis described the halving of insect numbers as potentially catastrophic and stressed the urgency for action to restore nature at scale, particularly in light of threats such as pesticide use, habitat loss, and climate change.

The Bugs Matter survey relies on citizen scientists to count the number of bugs splattered on their vehicle license plates, utilizing the Bugs Matter app during journeys made between May and September.

In the latest survey, participants in Northern Ireland covered nearly twelve thousand kilometers, which is approximately seven thousand five hundred miles. This year marked the first time the survey was also conducted in the Republic of Ireland, providing a new baseline for future comparisons.

Kent Wildlife Trust's citizen science lead, Rosie Bleet, called the reported decrease in Northern Ireland a 'red flag' and highlighted the significance of the eight percent yearly decline. She expressed the need for continued participation in the Bugs Matter survey in the coming years, noting that it has captured the interest of citizen scientists.

This ongoing decline in insect populations raises serious concerns about biodiversity and the ecological consequences that could follow. The survey results underline the pressing need for collective efforts to address the factors contributing to this decline, ensuring the protection and restoration of insect populations for the health of ecosystems.