# What’s Happening to the Insects and Should We Be Worried?

- Link: https://greenlivingguy.com/2018/04/whats-happening-to-the-insects-and-should-we-be-worried/
- Published: 2018-04-22T22:02:10-04:00
- Author: greenlivingguy

A new scientific study has shown that the insect populations are declining dramatically
due to many factors such as monoculture farming and the loss of habitat. The worst
thing of all is that most people don’t understand the important role the insects
play in our ecosystem. So the question is – should we be worried about what’s happening
to the insects?

![Insect populations. A new scientific study has shown that the insect populations
are declining dramatically due to many factors such as monoculture farming and the
loss of habitat. The worst thing of all is that most people don't understand the
important role the insects play in our ecosystem. So the question is - should we
be worried about what's happening to the insects?](https://i0.wp.com/greenlivingguy.
com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/img_4453-2.jpg?resize=300%2C225&quality=52&ssl=1)

Image source: [https://unsplash.com/photos/JiWVJ5-vR44](https://unsplash.com/photos/JiWVJ5-vR44)

##### And the answer is – yes. It is a fact that insects help create life. From bees and butterflies that pollinate vegetable and fruits. As well, to the beetles breaking down decaying animals and taking care of food leftovers.  Yes, believe it or not even on the city streets, insects are here to help us. Yet I get it.  They are pretty annoying at times (especially mosquitoes and the irritating itching of their bites).  Therefore, we wouldn’t be better off without them.

**The cause and evidence of insect decline**

[The study conducted in Germany](https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0185809)
showed that in past 27 years, flying insect populations have declined by more than
75%! By measuring insects biomass (the weight of the insect catch) from each of 
the traps (Malaise traps, a kind of net that catches insects) set up in 63 nature
protection areas in this country, researchers documented the alarming drop in insects
numbers. The fact that the study recorded the declines in protected areas means 
that for urban or agricultural areas the numbers are even higher.

![The study conducted in Germany showed that in past 27 years, flying insect populations
have declined by more than 75%! By measuring insects biomass (the weight of the 
insect catch) from each of the traps (Malaise traps, a kind of net that catches 
insects) set up in 63 nature protection areas in this country, researchers documented
the alarming drop in insects numbers. The fact that the study recorded the declines
in protected areas means that for urban or agricultural areas the numbers are even
higher.](https://i0.wp.com/greenlivingguy.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/img_4429.
jpg?resize=736%2C489&quality=52&ssl=1)

Image source: [https://www.flickr.com/photos/uqbar/17908372683](https://www.flickr.com/photos/uqbar/17908372683)

###### Entomologists say that it is unlikely that there’s only one main cause that is responsible for insect decline but a combination of factors such as increased use of pesticides and herbicides, climate change and loss of insect habitats. Lighting pollution in large populous cities is also one of the reasons for the decline of insects, fireflies to be exact since fireflies use their glowing rears to signal to potential predator they are not food, and they get confused by human-made light sources. Which leads us to the inevitable fact – the loss of insect diversity is going to jeopardize our ecosystem.

**We needed the warning**

The case of German study was the warning we needed. After identifying the problem
of [declining number of insects](https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/oct/18/warning-of-ecological-armageddon-after-dramatic-plunge-in-insect-numbers),
the obvious next step is finding a solution, but it has to be done quickly since
the consequences are going to be severe. Insects are very important for our food
web, not only because they pollinate our food, but also because some insects like
ladybugs help keep pests in check and therefore in a way take care of our crops.

Also, other insect-eating creatures like bats are affected. They are as well affected
by the [declining of insect populations](https://greenlivingguy.com/2025/10/wildlife-population-decline-in-latin-america/).
All of these serious disbalances in our ecosystem aren’t good. According to a study
conducted in 2016, bats are also on a decline since these insectivores don’t have
enough food. Along with bats, many bird species rely on insects as food, almost 
60% of all birds out there and unsurprisingly, there are almost 40% fewer birds 
species now than there were 40 years ago.

![Also, other insect-eating creatures like bats are affected by the declining of
insect populations that can make a serious disbalance in our ecosystem. According
to a study conducted in 2016, bats are also on a decline since these insectivores
don't have enough food. Along with bats, many bird species rely on insects as food,
almost 60% of all birds out there and unsurprisingly, there are almost 40% fewer
birds species now than there were 40 years ago.](https://i0.wp.com/greenlivingguy.
com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/img_4427.jpg?resize=736%2C414&quality=52&ssl=1)

Image source: [https://www.flickr.com/photos/pldms/5850403553](https://web.archive.org/web/20190201021906/https://www.flickr.com/photos/pldms/5850403553/)

**Pests need to be controlled**

### Meanwhile, 󠀁[Pestworks](https://www.pestworks.com.au/)󠁿 professionals explain that insect populations aren’t declining equally. So it seems that some pests like ticks and mosquitoes are on the upswing. Furthermore, and most noteworthy other pests (that target the crops) are becoming resistant to the chemicals like pesticides. That means that we are getting rid of insects that are actually beneficial for us. Thereby the ones that kill our crops flourish more. And it is time to do go green to stop these numbers from rising.

**Education is the solution**

[Tanya Latti](https://edition.cnn.com/2017/10/19/europe/insect-decline-germany/index.html),
a researcher and a teacher in entomology at Sydney University’s School of Life and
Environmental Sciences says: “The first step is acknowledging that we have a problem,
and working to correct that – how do we design our agriculture to encourage [insects](https://greenlivingguy.com/2021/06/7-household-tips-for-pesky-insects/)?
It could be something as simple as growing wildflowers along the edges of fields.”

## Finally and most importantly, the solution lies in improving people’s education around insect populations. As you can tell, the ways to deal with pests is crucial to our own survival. Instead of just being worried about insects decline, it is about time to make some changes, to find organic alternatives and stop using harmful chemicals and to save our ecosystem!