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Germany Sees Drastic Decrease in Insects - 75% in three decades
Germany Sees Drastic Decrease in Insects
A 27-year-long study finds insect biomass has declined by about 75 percent.
ampling from 63 protected nature areas throughout Germany, researchers have found a drop in flying insect mass by about 76 percent over 27 years. The results, published today (October 18) in PLOS ONE, are drastic, but are consistent with prior studies of butterflies, wild bees, and other surveys of specific insect species.
“The amount of decline, about 75 percent, is way too much to be attributed to just one or a few species such as bees or butterflies,” says plant ecologist and study author Hans de Kroon of Radboud University in the Netherlands. “These results are not from agricultural areas but natural preserves that are well-maintained and meant to protect biodiversity. We are seeing insects slipping out of our hands.”
<snip>
After about two decades, they started to see a drastic decrease in insects of about 80 percent, so the researchers began to re-sample from certain locations to make sure that the results weren’t just due to bad luck, says Hallmann.
But the trend continued. And after 27 years, in mid-summer, the decline was 82 percent. - The Scientist
A 27-year-long study finds insect biomass has declined by about 75 percent.
ampling from 63 protected nature areas throughout Germany, researchers have found a drop in flying insect mass by about 76 percent over 27 years. The results, published today (October 18) in PLOS ONE, are drastic, but are consistent with prior studies of butterflies, wild bees, and other surveys of specific insect species.
“The amount of decline, about 75 percent, is way too much to be attributed to just one or a few species such as bees or butterflies,” says plant ecologist and study author Hans de Kroon of Radboud University in the Netherlands. “These results are not from agricultural areas but natural preserves that are well-maintained and meant to protect biodiversity. We are seeing insects slipping out of our hands.”
<snip>
After about two decades, they started to see a drastic decrease in insects of about 80 percent, so the researchers began to re-sample from certain locations to make sure that the results weren’t just due to bad luck, says Hallmann.
But the trend continued. And after 27 years, in mid-summer, the decline was 82 percent. - The Scientist
What's not mentioned, but worth considering, is if these insects are dying because of insecticides and other species feed on them for their survival, what does that say about the health of every species up the food chain?
6 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
= new reply since forum marked as read
but maybe it's a California thing? 
My daughter, who is very sweet and attracts mosquitoes, has complained about the 'fruit fly' problem here in MD too (30 miles from me,) and told me about 3 others with same problem, but not the 'personal' thing.
