Insect decline will cause serious ecological harm
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Version 0 of 1. Attention has recently been focused on the health of wild nature, first by a report suggesting that diverse UK insect populations are declining at alarming rates (Report, 11 February), and now by one showing pollinators are in trouble (Bees and hoverflies lost from a quarter of British sites, major study finds, 27 March). While headlines implying that imminent extinction are exaggerated, as entomologists and ecologists we do think there is good evidence that insects are declining, and the ecological consequences may be serious. Insects massively outrank all other animals in diversity, numbers and biomass. Since insects underpin most non-marine food networks, serious declines would threaten the stability of wild nature, leading to reductions in numbers of insectivorous animals and those that eat them. The loss of pollinators would also adversely affect agriculture, since many crops depend on insects to set seed. Similar reports in each of the last three years provoked a brief flurry of media attention followed by deafening silence. Most worrying of all, there has been no apparent reaction from science-funding bodies or the government. We call on the UK’s research establishment to enable intensive investigation of the real threat of ecological disruption caused by insect declines without delay. Knowing about insects and their ways is not a luxury. The US entomologist Thomas Eisner said: “Bugs are not going to inherit the Earth. They own it now.” We dispossess them at our peril.Simon Leather Harper Adams University, honorary fellow of the Royal Entomological SocietyStuart Reynolds University of Bath, past president of the Royal Entomological SocietyJohn Krebs University of Oxford, formerly chief executive of the Natural Environment Research CouncilJohn Lawton University of York, formerly chief executive of the Natural Environment Research Council John Palmer House of LordsPaul Brakefield University of CambridgeGeorge McGavin University of OxfordKatherine Willis University of OxfordMichael Hassell Imperial CollegeRichard Lane formerly director of science at the Natural History Museum, LondonRoger Butlin University of SheffieldSheena Cotter University of LincolnHenry Disney University of CambridgeKevin Gaston University of ExeterDave Goulson University of SussexRhys Green University of CambridgeRichard Harrington editor of Antenna, the Royal Entomological Society’s house magazineJane Hill University of York James Logan London School of Hygiene and Tropical MedicineDarren Mann University of OxfordJane Memmott University of BristolAnne Oxbrough Edge Hill UniversityMike Siva-Jothy University of SheffieldPeter Smithers University of PlymouthJenni Stockan James Hutton Institute, AberdeenJeremy Thomas University of OxfordNina Wedell University of Exeter • Join the debate – email guardian.letters@theguardian.com • Read more Guardian letters – click here to visit gu.com/letters • Do you have a photo you’d like to share with Guardian readers? Click here to upload it and we’ll publish the best submissions in the letters spread of our print edition Insects Wildlife Animals Bees Farming letters Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share via Email Share on LinkedIn Share on Pinterest Share on WhatsApp Share on Messenger Reuse this content |