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Nature & Environment

Flying insect numbers drop by 75% in 27 years

By T.K. Randall
October 20, 2017 · Comment icon 16 comments

Bees, butterflies and moths are all in decline. Image Credit: CC BY-SA 2.0 Edwin Dalorzo
A new study has highlighted a huge reduction in the number of flying insects in Germany's nature reserves.
The research, which analyzed measurements of 'total insect biomass' across 63 nature protected areas, found that the figures had decreased by a whopping 75% since 1989.

Entomologists obtained the data by using malaise traps - tent-like structures through which flying insects can be funnelled in to a special collecting vessel situated at the trap's highest point.

The findings have been described as 'alarming' by experts.
Flying insects are particularly crucial because they perform a number of important functions including pollination - an essential process, not only for wild plants, but for human-grown crops as well.

"Insects make up about two thirds of all life on Earth," said Dave Goulson from the University of Sussex. "We appear to be making vast tracts of land inhospitable to most forms of life, and are currently on course for ecological armageddon."

"On current trajectory, our grandchildren will inherit a profoundly impoverished world."

Source: Tech Times | Comments (16)




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Recent comments on this story
Comment icon #7 Posted by WoIverine 7 years ago
I wouldn't complain too much if the mosquito population took a bit of a dip.
Comment icon #8 Posted by RoofGardener 7 years ago
Wow, two unrelated phenomena at the same time. What are the odds against THAT ? Firstly we have an increase in the population of insect-eating spiders. Then we have a reduction in the population of flying insects. Oh... wait....
Comment icon #9 Posted by Matt221 7 years ago
You beat me to it
Comment icon #10 Posted by fred_mc 7 years ago
I wouldn't mind if there were fewer wasps, they are quite annoying and they build hives in storage sheds and attics.
Comment icon #11 Posted by Matt221 7 years ago
I had two separate wasp nests in my garden if you leave them alone the're not a problem, and in the woodland near our house we have the privilege of Hornets nesting there every year such beautifully creatures
Comment icon #12 Posted by Matt221 7 years ago
Comment icon #13 Posted by RoofGardener 7 years ago
Fear not seanjo ... despite the stories and rumours, Marmite is not actually made from garden sheds and attics !
Comment icon #14 Posted by godnodog 6 years ago
After reading this article a few days ago I noticed that I've not seen bugs in quantities as 20years ago, I deliver mail mostly in rural areas and I was surprised that there arent as many insects as before, though I cant quantify it.
Comment icon #15 Posted by third_eye 6 years ago
Dragonflies and Damselflies ... are the ones I miss the most ... ~
Comment icon #16 Posted by godnodog 6 years ago
excellent example, havent seen one of these in years wtf


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