A citizen science project that asked people to count squashed bugs on their car number plates has suggested that flying insects have declined significantly in the UK since 2004, with a drop of 78%. The Bugs Matter survey is based on the windscreen phenomenon, where drivers have noticed fewer insects on their windscreens compared to the past. This decline is concerning because insects play crucial roles in ecological systems, including pollination, pest control, decomposition, and nutrient recycling.
The survey, led by Kent Wildlife Trust and Buglife, analyzed data from over 26,000 journeys across the UK. Volunteers cleaned their number plates before essential journeys, recorded their routes, and counted the insects squashed on their plates using a provided ‘splatometer grid’. The data was converted into ‘splats per mile’ for comparison.
The results showed a sharp decline in England, with an 83% reduction in insect splats between 2004 and 2023. London had the highest drop, with a 91% decrease. Wales and Scotland also experienced significant declines of 79% and 76%, respectively. Northern Ireland, with limited data, saw a 54% decline between 2021 and 2023.
Experts warn that this decline is a ‘red flag’ for the state of nature in the UK and highlights the need to address factors contributing to insect loss, such as habitat loss and degradation, climate change, pollution, and pesticide use. They emphasize that insects are essential for the functioning of ecosystems and provide invaluable services to humans, including pollination, which is critical for food production. The decline in insect populations raises concerns about the potential impacts on food security and the overall health of the environment.
