The Silent Decline: Bug Splat Survey Records Alarming Drop in Insect Numbers on Cars
In a recent citizen science initiative led by the Kent Wildlife Trust and Buglife, drivers across the UK were asked to participate in a unique survey: counting the number of insects squashed on their vehicles’ number plates. The results, described as “extremely concerning,” reveal a staggering decline in the insect population over the past two decades.
The survey, aptly named the “Bug Splat” survey, aimed to shed light on the state of insect populations by analyzing the number of squashed insects found on car windshields and number plates. What it found was alarming: a startling 78% decrease in flying insects across the UK from 2004 to 2023.
Kent Wildlife Trust and Buglife, who spearheaded the project, sounded the alarm bells, emphasizing that this drastic decline is a significant “red flag” for the state of nature in the UK. Insects play a crucial role in ecosystems, pollinating crops, controlling pests, decomposing waste, and sustaining food chains for larger animals.
Without insects, the very fabric of life on earth would be compromised, the conservation groups warned.
The Bugs Matter survey, inspired by the “windscreen phenomenon,” where drivers noticed fewer moths, flies, bees, and beetles on their windshields than in previous years, underscores the urgency of addressing the decline in insect populations.
There is mounting evidence attributing this decline to factors such as habitat loss, climate change, pollution, and pesticide use, both in the UK and globally.
The UK, once teeming with diverse plant, animal, and fungal life, now faces a stark reality: less than half of its original biodiversity remains.
Participation in the Bug Splat survey involved cleaning vehicle number plates before embarking on essential journeys, recording routes, and using a “splatometer grid” to count squashed insects afterward.
Analysis of 6,637 journeys conducted last year revealed the most significant decline in England, with an 83% decrease since 2004. Wales and Scotland followed suit with 79% and 76% drops, respectively, over the same period. Even in Northern Ireland, where only a limited sample was taken, a 54% decline between 2021 and 2023 was observed.
Dr. Lawrence Ball of Kent Wildlife Trust expressed grave concern over the results, emphasizing the need for urgent action to address the declining insect populations. Andrew Whitehouse of Buglife echoed these sentiments, highlighting the far-reaching consequences of dwindling insect numbers on the health of the natural world and the essential services it provides.
As the Bug Splat survey underscores, the decline in insect populations is not just a warning sign—it’s a call to action to safeguard the delicate balance of nature upon which our survival depends.
