Are Insects Becoming Extinct?

Insects can be so tiny we might not always think about them, but they play a very important role on our planet. Many birds and reptiles rely on them for food and they also help with pollination. But the population is going down.

New researchers have been looking at historical reports of insects from across the globe and they’ve also been looking at the reasons as to why it’s happening. The most affected species include: Moths Butterflies Dragonflies Wasps Bees Ants Dung beetles

Some insect species are increasing though. The research (published in the Biological Conversation journal) found that 40% of the world’s insect species will become extinct over the next few decades. That means that they won’t exist anymore forever. The researchers say that there are a number of reasons for the drop, including; loss of habitat due to intensive agriculture and climate change.

Researchers say "a considerable proportion" of some species, which include dragonflies, have already been lost. Butterflies and moths are amongst the worst affected insects. Insects are going extinct eight times faster than other animals.

One of the biggest impacts of insect loss is on the many birds, reptiles, amphibians and fish that eat insects. “If this food source is taken away, all these animals starve to death,” said a researcher. Such cascading effects have already been seen in Puerto Rico, where a recent study revealed a 98% fall in ground insects over 35 years.

By Ioana 5J