Destruction of wild areas for agriculture
and use of pesticides considered likely factors
The Independent Online
The number of flying insects has
plummeted by 75 per cent in the last 25 years, according to a study that
suggests we are approaching an “ecological Armageddon”.
The implications for humanity are
profound, with insects providing an essential role for life on earth as
pollinators of plants and prey for larger animals.
Although it was known species such as bees
and butterflies were declining, scientists were left shocked by the drop in
numbers across nature reserves in Germany.
While no single cause was identified, the
widespread destruction of wild areas for agriculture and the use of pesticides
are considered likely factors. Climate changewas also
cited as playing a potential role.
Dave Goulson, professor of life sciences at
the University of Sussex and the study’s co-author, said: “Insects make up
about two-thirds of all life on Earth but there has been some kind of
horrific decline.
“We appear to be making vast tracts of land
inhospitable to most forms of life, and are currently on course for ecological
Armageddon. If we lose the insects then everything is going to collapse.”
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