Global insect populations have been declining at an alarming speed. A 2019 review published in Biological Conservation found that over 40% of insect species are declining and a third are endangered, facing extinction within the coming decades. According to the United Nations, the rate of extinction among insects is eight times faster than mammals, birds, and reptiles.
In Europe, decades of monitoring in nature reserves have shown a loss of over 75% in flying insects. North America has also shown similar patterns, with a decrease in native bee and monarch butterfly populations. In some tropical regions data is still limited however a few localized studies, such as research on tiger moths in Panama, have shown short-term stability. Broader trends still suggest that many tropical insect populations, such as those in Costa Rica, are experiencing significant declines.
Despite these variations, the overall global trend points towards a significant and potentially irreversible loss of insect diversity and abundance. The loss of these insect populations can have cascading effects across ecosystems, agriculture, and food security. CONTINUE READING