Title: What’s Causing the Sharp Decline in Insects, and Why It Matters - Yale E360
Headings: What’s Causing the Sharp Decline in Insects, and Why It Matters
Vanishing Act
What’s Causing the Sharp Decline in Insects, and Why It Matters
Scientists have described 1 million species of insects so far, and estimate at least 4 million are still unrecorded.
A recent increase in insect monitoring efforts stems from the rise of ‘citizen science’ projects.
How Rising CO2 Levels May Contribute to Die-Off of Bees

Content: The researchers emphasize that pollinating insects improve or stabilize the yield of three-quarters of all crop types globally — one-third of global crop production by volume. Germany’s Federal Agency for Nature Conservation stresses that insects are a major food source not only for birds, but also for bats and amphibians. Another important role is played by specialized insects such as long-legged flies, dance flies, dagger flies, and balloon flies, which prey upon pest species. Deckert of the Berlin Natural History Museum has compiled a long list of factors that contribute to insect loss. One factor — the widespread overuse of nitrogen fertilizer — enables a few plant species such as corn to thrive, while the majority of plant species that live in symbiotic relationships with highly specialized insects dwindle. In large parts of Europe, the U.S., and South America, monocultures cover vast areas of the landscape, creating “biological deserts” devoid of hedges or ponds where insects could reproduce. Attempts to make the European Union’s agricultural system more environmentally friendly have largely failed in recent years. Of particular concern is the widespread use of pesticides and their impact on non-target species. Many conservationists view a special class of pesticides called neonicotinoids — used over many years in Europe until a partial ban in 2013 — as the prime suspect for insect losses. The European Food Safety Authority is currently reviewing the ban.