Insect extinction threatens ‘collapse of nature’

Right now, we are living through the sixth major extinction event in Earth's history. Meteors, ice ages and volcanic eruptions caused the first five. But this one is different — this time, humans are to blame. The species being harmed the most? Insects. According to a new report, more than 40% of insect species are declining, and a third are currently endangered. Every year the total mass of insects on Earth decreases by 2.5%, eight times faster than that of mammals. If this continues, within a century they will all be wiped out. Warning signs can be seen across the world. English farms have recorded an 58% fall in butterfly species; Puerto RicoA Caribbean island and US territory. has lost 98% of its ground insects in the last 35 years; and 75% of flying insects have disappeared from Germany's nature reserves. "If insect species losses cannot be halted, this will have catastrophic consequences for both the planet's ecosystemsComplex networks of living things that rely on each other to survive. and for the survival of mankind," warns scientist Francisco Sanchez-Bayo. Insects are an essential part of all of Earth's ecosystems, providing food for birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish and larger animals. "If this food source is taken away, all these animals starve to death," explains Sanchez-Bayo. Insects also pollinate 80% of the world's plants, recycle nutrientsSubstances that plants and animals need to live and grow. The six essential nutrients our bodies need are vitamins, minerals, protein, fats, water, and carbohydrates. and help keep soil healthy. "Love them or loathe them, we humans cannot survive without insects," says Professor Dave Goulson. And yet, it is we humans that are responsible for their widespread destruction. The report claims that industrial agriculture is the main thing devastating insect populations, particularly the widespread use of pesticidesPoisons used for destroying insects and plants. . Climate change and urban sprawlThe quick growth of urban environments into rural areas. also contribute. So what can be done to help? Experts insist we must change the way food is produced. That means growing more food organically, cutting down on pesticides and giving over land to wild spaces. Consumers could also avoid buying intensively farmed foods, demand political action and take measures to reduce their own carbon footprint, for example, by eating less meat and travelling less by plane. Scientists say there need to be radical improvements in how we produce food and how with care for the natural world. But will this actually happen? It is easy to arouse people's passions when rhinos and pandas are threatened with extinction, but less so with insects. How can this be changed? Some insist this is connected to wider issues. Climate change, animal extinctions, deforestation: it comes down to humanity's insatiable desire to consume. From what we eat and wear to how we travel, do we all have a duty to live in sustainable ways? If so, what changes would have the most impact? What do we know? Insects make up 70% of all animal species and are the most abundant creatures on planet Earth, outweighing the mass of humans by a factor of 17. Around 80% of wild plants need insects for pollination, and 60% of birds rely on insects as a food source. In the last 50 years, the populations of all mammals, birds, reptiles and fish have fallen by an average of 60%. What do we not know? If sufficient action will be taken in time to avert disasters. "Unless we change our ways of producing food, insects as a whole will go down the path of extinction in a few decades," the study states.KeywordsPuerto Rico - A Caribbean island and US territory.