There have definitely been many fewer bees, and indeed, most flying insects this past summer few or no butterflies or other insects of any type, alarmingly so as we rely on them to pollenate, and thus propagate, all our plants and trees. I did notice that for the first time I can remember, a lot of the ‘conker’ trees didn’t actually have them! Obviously, no pollination of their flowers means no new conkers (horse chestnut seeds).The decline of insects has ripple effects throughout the food chain. Birds, bats, and other animals that rely on insects as their primary food source are also declining. In agricultural ecosystems, the loss of pollinators can lead to reduced crop yields, potentially threatening food security. Furthermore, the use of pesticides that harm beneficial insects often leads to a rebound in pest species, requiring even more chemical intervention, which exacerbates the problem.
However, the real worry is the long-term global trend, with insect population declining at about 1-2 per cent per year, year on year. And this decline probably began at least 80 years ago, maybe earlier. The most worrying observation of this came from a German study which found that flying insect biomass collapsed by 76 per cent between 1989 and 2016. The Kent Wildlife Trust and Buglife run a UK-wide count of bug splats on car number plates and found a 78 per cent decline in the 20 years from 2004 to 2023.
The rapid decline in insect populations is alarming not just because of its impact on ecosystems, but also due to its potential consequences for human survival. Insects play a fundamental role in pollination, nutrient recycling, pest control, and as a food source for many other species. The declines we’re observing, such as the reduction in insect-eating bird populations, are all interconnected. Insects populations are weather-sensitive (rather like ourselves), and we have had a wet and cold spring and barely a summer. This in itself is no cause to worry, British insects have adapted to unpredictable weather patterns for millennia, and they always seem to bounce back as soon as the weather warms up.
The multiple causes of insect declines—habitat loss, pesticide use, climate change, light pollution, and more—make this problem complex to solve. Weather patterns have always influenced insect populations, but modern pressures like pesticides and habitat fragmentation amplify these effects. The weakened regulations in the UK post-Brexit, allowing increased pesticide residues on food items, pose a risk not only to insects but also to human health. Pesticides can have sub-lethal effects on insects, such as impairing their ability to navigate, reproduce, or avoid predators, which ultimately diminishes their populations over time.
Between 2022 and 2024, the Conservative government weakened pesticide safety limits on 115 types of food produce items including blackberries, grapes, onions and potatoes. This has meant the amount of pesticide residue allowed on scores of food types in Wales, England and Scotland has soared with some now thousands of times higher. The undermining of the safety limits on pesticides means anyone who eats the produce are exposing themselves to tens – or even hundreds – of different chemicals at a time when cancers and other chronic diseases are on the rise, and we should be doing everything we possibly can to reduce our chemical exposure. In reality, we have no idea what this ongoing exposure is doing to our health over the long term. It’s particularly damning that the EU has banned 30 harmful pesticides since Brexit – the UK has not banned any of these.The UK could benefit from re-evaluating its stance on pesticides that have been banned by the EU and considering adopting similar standards.
The situation is dire, but there is hope. Global awareness of the insect decline crisis is growing, and initiatives aimed at insect conservation are becoming more prevalent. Tactics such as protecting and restoring natural habitats such as meadows, hedgerows, and wetlands can provide safe havens for insects. Initiatives like creating wildflower corridors and reducing mowing in public spaces can make a big difference. Supporting such efforts, along with advocating for policy changes, can contribute to reversing these trends before the losses become irreversible. If we don’t do something, it may be that we’ll all be soon going the same way as the insects, birds and conkers.
