A group of international scientists are trying to stop an alarming decline in insect numbers. Zoologists, biologists, ecologists, among others, have joined together to outline a roadmap to save insects from destruction. 

Insects form the functional base of the majority of the world's ecosystems – take away the base and the rest will collapse. Estimates vary as to the scale of insect decline. Contributor to the roadmap, Professor Dave Goulson estimates that since the 1970s, the world might have lost 50 percent of all insects.

A lack of pollinators – bees and similar insects – will result in a widespread failure of crops. Without enough insects to feed on, many birds and smaller mammals will face extinction, having a knock-on effect all the way up the food chain to human beings. 

Through an examination of combined research showing rising threats to insects – be it habitat loss, pollution, invasive species and climate change – the scientists have settled on eight immediate actions that must be taken in order to stave off ecological devastation. 

"In a crisis everyone has to act," states Justin Gerlach, a Zoologist based at the University of Cambridge and contributor to the roadmap. Adding that, while "individual actions will accumulate to make large-scale changes, that will take time." For Gerlach, action must come from "larger-scale drivers," be they financial or government institutions. 

Despite the alarming decline in the insect populations, there are ongoing examples of countries and individuals taking action, fulfilling the requirements of the roadmap and hopefully inspiring more to follow. 

 

Reduction in light pollution 

The precise reason why insects are attracted to UV light is still a matter of scientific debate. A popular theory is that since many flowers reflect UV light, bugs are attracted to artificial light sources, mistaking them for flowers. 

From luring bugs to light sources, where moths and other creatures are burned on bulbs, to illuminating insects for nocturnal predators or obscuring mating signals, UV lights are fatal for insects. 

Gerlach says solutions can be found in "lighting design, positioning and avoiding excess use – angling of lights and shielding, so it's only illuminating the desired area; reducing brightness where appropriate, so it serves a function and not illuminating things unnecessarily."

Of the roadmap's demands, reducing light pollution is relatively straightforward and has the added benefit of diminishing energy use. 

 

Reduction in noise pollution 

Along with light, noise pollution is a growing threat to insect populations. The tiny, fragile creatures are physiologically damaged by loud, consistent noise, which can result in a loss of orientation, perception and cognition.

Similar to light pollution, the solutions to noise pollution fit in well with solutions to climate change. A widespread switch to electric cars, which are far quieter than their gas counterparts, could help restore insect populations as well as cut down on fossil fuels. 

 

Reduce ecologically harmful products

A far more ambitious recommendation in the paper is a "reduction in imports of ecologically harmful products." Changing an entrenched system of global trade is no small task. 

Over the past few centuries, there has been a huge increase in the distance and complexity of trading routes. Products either harmful to insects or containing insects are increasingly transported across the globe, mixing species that previously would have never come into contact. 

Countries such as New Zealand and Australia already have strict control over imports in a bid to protect their natural fauna and flora – a tactic that lead author of the paper, Jeff Harvey, believes should be implemented worldwide. 

"The winds carry no passports, but regulations should transcend borders and thus be more international in scope, reducing the threat of moving new species into non-native habitats," says the biologist. 

His colleague Gerlach echoes the sentiments, adding that reforms in trade will only be realized via the application of "pressure on corporations or governments."

 

Avoid introduction of alien species

Centuries of deregulated trade has led to alien, invasive species spreading across the world, be it the Argentine ant that has destroyed rival colonies across the US, or the humble field mouse – once native to South Asia and now internationally abundant.  

The roadmap's authors demand action is taken to mitigate against alien species. 

Once an alien species has taken hold, it is notoriously hard to dislodge them. Successful cases are expensive and isolated to environments such as the small, remote South Georgia island that have successfully eradicated rats, originally brought by 18th century whalers on their way to the waters around Antarctica.

Gerlach believes trade in its wider context must be targeted now, rather than retrospective action being taken. 

"All trade will bring with it some invasives and the more long distance trade there is, the more species will be moved. So part of the financial benefit of trade needs to be put back into controlling this negative aspect," the zoologist says. 

 

Education and citizen science 

The relative success in recent years in highlighting insect decline has been through increased media attention. The paper's authors note the importance of the media in educating the public. 

Many have already taken matters into their own hands. Gerlach notes the importance of raising awareness, which can "enable invasives to be identified and maybe even controlled."

The zoologist cites successful cases, such as the growing popularity of beekeeping or, in the UK, where the public have assisted the government in identifying colonies of the Asian hornet, an invasive species with a venom that can be deadly to humans.  

The global roadmap may be ambitious – it will involve individuals, corporations, trade bodies, governments and many more working together to be realized. The scientists behind it insist its implementation is no longer a choice, but a vital set of actions that must be taken if we are to not only halt the insect decline, but stave off a threat to human existence.