Estimating Insect Populations: Weather Radar Innovations in the US

On August 25, 2021, researchers used weather radar to estimate the number of flying insects in the United States, revealing a staggering 100 trillion insects flying over the U.S. mainland on a typical summer day.

This research, led by Elske Tielens from the Swiss Research Institute WSL, Jeff Kelly from the University of Oklahoma, and Phil Stepanian, now at Lincoln Lab MIT, is published in the journal Global Change Biology.

The study highlighted that while insect abundance remained relatively stable over a decade from 2012 to 2021, significant regional fluctuations were observed, closely correlated with winter temperatures.

Warmer temperatures were associated with declines in insect populations, and while radar provides valuable data, it cannot identify individual species, suggesting that some species sensitive to environmental changes may be disappearing.

The findings encourage the combination of radar data with local surveys and citizen science to create a comprehensive understanding of insect populations. This innovative use of weather radar marks a significant advancement in entomological research, offering insights that could impact pest control and conservation strategies.