27th September 2023
It is not just butterflies that are declining in number but all insects. If you can go that far back, do you remember how in the 1970s car windscreens would have to be washed after each journey to remove the insects splattered across the glass? That is no longer a problem for drivers and that is not just because of more aerodynamically designed vehicles. A study carried out by Bug Life and Kent Wildlife Trust in 2022 reported a 60% declines in insect numbers since 2002. This is worrying because many plants rely on insects for pollination and because other creatures – especially birds – rely on insects for food. What might be causing the decline? The use of pesticides and herbicides on crops and in gardens; climate change; habitat loss and fragmentation.
Can we be part of the solution? As gardeners we can create insect friendly habitats; we can support wild life organisations; we can opt for organic produce; we can ask our local council not to use pesticides and herbicides; we can campaign for government action.
For further info – https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/news/2022/may/uks-flying-insects-have-declined-60-in-20-years.html
The Green Tau 