Insect extinction threatens disastrous collapse of ecosystems, say scientists

Human activity could see as much as 40% of species wiped out in decades, study finds

Human activity is causing dramatic declines in insects which could see 40% of species become extinct in a few decades, a scientific study has warned.

The global review of declines in insects warned that the world was witnessing the “largest extinction event on Earth” for millions of years, in the face of habitat loss, pesticides, disease and invasive species and climate change.

Because of the importance of insects to natural systems and other wildlife, “such events cannot be ignored and should prompt decisive action to avert a catastrophic collapse of nature’s ecosystems”, the scientists warned.

The review, published in the journal Biological Conservation, looked at 73 historical reports on insects from around the world, including studies in the UK, and found insects ranging from butterflies and bees to dung beetles were among the most affected.

The researchers warned that the intensification of agriculture over the past six decades was “the root cause of the problem” and that the widespread use of pesticides was having a major impact.

The biggest driver in insect declines is the loss of habitat and conversion of land to intensive farming and urban areas, followed by pollution, mainly by chemical pesticides and fertilisers.

Insects are also being hit by biological factors, such as pathogens and introduced species, and by climate change, where rising temperatures could affect the range of places where they can live.

Insects are key to functioning natural systems, from providing a food source for other wildlife such as birds, mammals and amphibians, to pollinating plants and recycling nutrients.

The researchers Francisco SanchezBayo and Kris Wyckhuys said: “The conclusion is clear: unless we change our ways of producing food, insects as a whole will go down the path of extinction in a few decades. The repercussions this will have for the planet’s ecosystems are catastrophic to say the least, as insects are at the structural and functional base of many of the world’s ecosystems.”

They called for habitat restoration, a dramatic reduction in pesticides and changes to agriculture to help insects, such as flower-rich strips planted along the margins of fields, or rotating crops with clover to benefit bumblebees.

Picture: Getty Images. Bees pollinate our crops, but now their existence could be under threat, say experts.