The scale of the crisis is such that the global insect population is declining between 1 to 2 percent each year, with a UN assessment cautioning that half a million species are under threat. Scientists at Harvard University estimate that the rapid drop in pollinating insects is hampering yields of nutrient-rich fruits, vegetables, and nuts – leading to an estimated 427,000 early deaths a year.

A 2022 study by biodiversity researchers published in the journal Nature says that the impact of historical climate change and intensive farming practices is associated with a decline in insect numbers of nearly 50 percent and a drop in the number of species by 27 percent, when compared to less-disturbed habitats with lower rates of climate warming.

The emergency is so acute that nearly all insect groups are in peril. Butterflies and moths have been badly affected by habitat loss, climate change, and the overuse of pesticides and herbicides. An estimated 28 percent of bumble bee species are under threat, according to a study by the Xerces Society and the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Freshwater insects are losing breeding grounds as farmers develop land for new crops. Beetle species that are key to recycling nutrients in soil are also in decline.

Entomologists and biodiversity experts are now urging governments to place strict controls on intensive farming and pollution while moving fast to tackle climate change.

In this episode of The Stream, we’ll look at the scale of the crisis and ask what can and should be done to help insect populations recover.

The post How Can We Save the World’s Insects? first appeared on Sevenelles.

It’s not exactly news that bee populations have been suffering, especially those that live in or nearby human-populated areas.

But according to a new long-term study, published in the journal Current Biology, even pollinators that live in remote, human-free forests, away from humans and aren’t directly exposed to harmful behaviors like chemical pesticide use and habitat destruction, are disappearing in pretty horrifying numbers — yet another troubling sign that our much-needed pollinators are disappearing at alarming rates.

Bees, as The Bee Conservancy puts it, “lie at the heart of our survival.” Human agricultural processes rely on these precious pollinators, which play a critical role in growing the crops that we and our livestock eat; they play a similarly critical role in natural food systems, too.

In short, if we lose bees, we lose a lot of plants, which means that we lose a lot of animals, habitats, and crops in turn. Not good.

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The post Bees are Dying at a Shocking Rate first appeared on Sevenelles.

The insect population, including cabbage moths, corn borers, and dragonflies, in East Asia, has been drastically declining over the past two decades, according to a study from the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences in Beijing. The team tracked the migration patterns of almost 100 species of insects, with overall insect levels in the migration corridor between China, the Korean Peninsula, and Japan decreasing by nearly 8%, and predator insect levels going down almost 20%. The reduction in plant-eating insects and their predator counterparts causes a ripple effect that weakens the whole food web, ultimately leading to an ecosystem’s collapse.

The lack of predators such as dragonflies, beetles, and other insects that consume plant-eating insects like aphids and caterpillars allows the latter to feed on crops like soybeans, corn, and cotton. The consequences can affect food production and economies. The scientists used radar and light traps to track insects flying over Beihuang Island in Bohai Bay between China and the Korean Peninsula from 2003 through 2020. The study aligns with other research on alarming rates of insect disappearance, such as beetles in Puerto Rico, flies in Germany’s swamps, and butterflies on the American prairie.

The vanishing of insects poses a problem as they play a critical role in ecosystems by pollinating plants and controlling pests that harm essential crops. A massive die-off could throw ecosystems out of balance, cause food chains to collapse, and lead to the extinction of some species and an overabundance of others. The reduction of predators from the top levels of the food chain allows lower levels, such as aphids and caterpillars, to overindulge in their food sources, throwing plants out of balance.

Roads, farmland, and invasive species are encroaching on insects’ habitats, and pesticides are polluting what remains. Climate change has led to irregular weather and seasonal patterns that benefit some insects while causing harm to others. Restoration projects that include reintroducing predator species can help reverse the die-off. Scientists can also use the research to develop new methods of pest control for food crops that reduce the need for pesticides by deploying predator insects instead. “Insects provide important services to humanity,” said Kris Wyckhuys, a co-author of the study.

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The post Essential Insects in East Asia have Declined Massively first appeared on Sevenelles.

The decline of insects is due to various factors including climate change, agriculture, increased use of insecticides and herbicides, deforestation, urbanization, and light pollution. A world without insects would be disastrous and would have a catastrophic effect on food webs and human nutrition. Over 2 billion individuals globally suffer from hidden hunger, or micronutrient deficiencies, which would worsen with the loss of insects and threaten global food security and public health.

To protect insects, a combination of approaches is needed, including creating diverse landscapes, reducing insecticide and herbicide usage, reducing light pollution, reducing carbon emissions, and advocating for insect conservation. Supporting research and educational institutions and research funding is also essential to understand and address insect decline.

Everyone can contribute to the goal of protecting insects, such as planting native plants, maintaining pollinator gardens, using safer pest management techniques, turning off outdoor lights at night, reducing carbon emissions, and advocating for insect conservation. It is essential that we commit to doing something to protect insects and their ecosystems for a sustainable future.

The post The Value of Insects: We Must Act Now to Protect Them first appeared on Sevenelles.