60 percent drop in flying insects since 2004, says UK report

SHAH ALAM - The number of flying insects in Great Britain has decreased by almost 60 percent since 2004, according to a survey that collects splats on car registration plates.

Scientists have described the reduction as 'terrifying' as insects are essential for life on Earth.

According to The Guardian, the results were from thousands of journeys by the public in the summer of 2021 and were compared to results from 2004.

The fall records the highest in England at 65 percent, Wales with 55 percent reduction while Scotland records 28 percent.

"The researchers said it was possible that those years were unusually good ones, or bad ones, for insects, potentially skewing the data, and so it was vital to repeat the analysis every year to build up a long-term trend.

"The new results are consistent with other assessments of insect decline, including a car windscreen survey in rural Denmark that ran every year from 1997 to 2017 and found an 80% decline in abundance," it stated with only two large surveys conducted so far.

Meanwhile, participants in the British survey downloaded an application called 'Bugs Matter' which allows them to track their journeys and the number of bugs smashed on their licence plates. The next survey will take place from June to August.

Matt Shardlow at Buglife who ran the survey along with Kent Wildlife Trust (KWT) said the study shows the number of flying insects is declining by an average of 34 percent per decade, further stating it was terrifying.

“We cannot put off action any longer, for the health and wellbeing of future generations this demands a political and societal response. It is essential that we halt biodiversity decline now.” he said.

Paul Hadaway at KWT said the results should definitely shock and concern all of us.

“We are seeing declines in insects which reflect the enormous threats and loss of wildlife more broadly across the country. We need action for all our wildlife now by creating more and bigger areas of habitats, providing corridors through the landscape for wildlife and allowing nature space to recover.” he was quoted in The Guardian.

Insects play a crucial role in environmental health by recycling organic matter, pollination and pest control.