Biology Letters,
Journal Year:
2023,
Volume and Issue:
19(2)
Published: Feb. 1, 2023
Sparked
by
reports
of
insect
declines
unexpected
extent,
there
has
been
a
surge
in
the
compilation
and
analysis
time
series
data.
While
this
effort
led
to
valuable
databases,
disagreement
remains
as
whether,
where
why
insects
are
declining.
The
‘why’
question
is
particularly
important
because
successful
conservation
will
need
address
most
drivers
decline.
Despite
repeated
calls
for
more
long-term
data,
new
have
run
decades
quantitatively
surpass
those
currently
available.
Here
we
argue
that
experimentation
addition
quantitative
existing
data
needed
identify
potential
population
change
likely
already
identified,
their
relative
importance
largely
unknown.
Researchers
should
thus
unite
use
statistical
insight
set
up
suitable
experiments
be
able
rank
importance.
Such
coordinated
produce
knowledge
necessary
action
also
result
increased
monitoring
series.
Annual Review of Entomology,
Journal Year:
2019,
Volume and Issue:
65(1), P. 457 - 480
Published: Oct. 14, 2019
Insect
declines
are
being
reported
worldwide
for
flying,
ground,
and
aquatic
lineages.
Most
reports
come
from
western
northern
Europe,
where
the
insect
fauna
is
well-studied
there
considerable
demographic
data
many
taxonomically
disparate
Additional
cases
of
faunal
losses
have
been
noted
Asia,
North
America,
Arctic,
Neotropics,
elsewhere.
While
this
review
addresses
both
species
loss
population
declines,
its
emphasis
on
latter.
Declines
abundant
can
be
especially
worrisome,
given
that
they
anchor
trophic
interactions
shoulder
essential
ecosystem
services
their
respective
communities.
A
factors
believed
to
responsible
observed
collapses
those
perceived
threatening
insects
form
core
treatment.
In
addition
widely
recognized
threats
biodiversity,
e.g.,
habitat
destruction,
agricultural
intensification
(including
pesticide
use),
climate
change,
invasive
species,
assessment
highlights
a
few
less
commonly
considered
such
as
atmospheric
nitrification
burning
fossil
fuels
effects
droughts
changing
precipitation
patterns.
Because
geographic
extent
magnitude
largely
unknown,
an
urgent
need
monitoring
efforts,
across
ecological
gradients,
which
will
help
identify
important
causal
in
declines.
This
also
considers
status
vertebrate
insectivores,
reporting
bias,
challenges
inherent
collecting
interpreting
data,
increasing
abundance.
Insect Conservation and Diversity,
Journal Year:
2020,
Volume and Issue:
13(2), P. 103 - 114
Published: March 1, 2020
Abstract
Many
insect
species
are
under
threat
from
the
anthropogenic
drivers
of
global
change.
There
have
been
numerous
well‐documented
examples
population
declines
and
extinctions
in
scientific
literature,
but
recent
weaker
studies
making
extreme
claims
a
crisis
drawn
widespread
media
coverage
brought
unprecedented
public
attention.
This
spotlight
might
be
double‐edged
sword
if
veracity
alarmist
decline
statements
do
not
stand
up
to
close
scrutiny.
We
identify
seven
key
challenges
drawing
robust
inference
about
declines:
establishment
historical
baseline,
representativeness
site
selection,
robustness
time
series
trend
estimation,
mitigation
detection
bias
effects,
ability
account
for
potential
artefacts
density
dependence,
phenological
shifts
scale‐dependence
extrapolation
sample
abundance
population‐level
inference.
Insect
fluctuations
complex.
Greater
care
is
needed
when
evaluating
evidence
trends
identifying
those
trends.
present
guidelines
best‐practise
approaches
that
avoid
methodological
errors,
mitigate
biases
produce
more
analyses
Despite
many
existing
pitfalls,
we
forward‐looking
prospectus
future
monitoring,
highlighting
opportunities
creative
exploitation
baseline
data,
technological
advances
sampling
novel
computational
approaches.
Entomologists
cannot
tackle
these
alone,
it
only
through
collaboration
with
citizen
scientists,
other
research
scientists
disciplines,
data
analysts
next
generation
researchers
will
bridge
gap
between
little
bugs
big
data.
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences,
Journal Year:
2021,
Volume and Issue:
118(2)
Published: Jan. 11, 2021
We
review
changes
in
the
status
of
butterflies
Europe,
focusing
on
long-running
population
data
available
for
United
Kingdom,
Netherlands,
and
Belgium,
based
standardized
monitoring
transects.
In
8%
resident
species
have
become
extinct,
since
1976
overall
numbers
declined
by
around
50%.
20%
1990
country
Distribution
trends
showed
that
butterfly
distributions
began
decreasing
long
ago,
between
1890
1940,
80%.
Flanders
(Belgium),
20
extinct
(29%),
1992
2007
30%.
A
European
Grassland
Butterfly
Indicator
from
16
countries
shows
there
has
been
a
39%
decline
grassland
1990.
The
2010
Red
List
listed
38
482
(8%)
as
threatened
44
(10%)
near
(note
47
were
not
assessed).
level
analysis
indicates
average
rating
is
highest
central
mid-Western
Europe
lowest
far
north
Mediterranean.
causes
are
thought
to
be
similar
most
countries,
mainly
habitat
loss
degradation
chemical
pollution.
Climate
change
allowing
many
spread
northward
while
bringing
new
threats
susceptible
species.
describe
examples
possible
conservation
solutions
summary
policy
needed
conserve
other
insects.
Conservation Science and Practice,
Journal Year:
2019,
Volume and Issue:
1(8)
Published: June 22, 2019
Abstract
Recent
regional
reports
and
trends
in
biomonitoring
suggest
that
insects
are
experiencing
a
multicontinental
crisis
is
apparent
as
reductions
abundance,
diversity,
biomass.
Given
the
centrality
of
to
terrestrial
ecosystems
food
chain
supports
humans,
importance
addressing
these
declines
cannot
be
overstated.
The
scientific
community
has
understandably
been
focused
on
establishing
breadth
depth
phenomenon
documenting
factors
causing
insect
declines.
In
parallel
with
ongoing
research,
it
now
time
for
development
policy
consensus
will
allow
swift
societal
response.
We
point
out
this
response
need
not
wait
full
resolution
many
physiological,
behavioral,
demographic
aspects
declining
populations.
To
ends,
we
primary
goals
summarized
at
scales
from
nations
farms
homes.
Annual Review of Environment and Resources,
Journal Year:
2020,
Volume and Issue:
45(1), P. 61 - 82
Published: May 26, 2020
This
article
reviews
the
present
state
of
insects,
describing
their
taxonomic
position,
cost,
and
value
as
well
threats
to
well-being.
Insects
are
an
important
source
both
ecosystem
services
disservices.
Recent
studies
have
indicated
a
worrying
decline
in
insect
species,
especially
flying
insects
northern
temperate
region,
this
has
spawned
much
media
attention.
Some
occurred,
it
is
clear,
due
agricultural
intensification,
urbanization,
overuse
pesticides,
global
climate
change.
A
would
seriously
affect
that
provide.
However,
there
too
little
data
warrant
belief
all
declining
everywhere.
There
pressing
need
for
more
basic
research
on
diversity
context
changing
world.