How reliable are the reports of falling insect numbers?

When the total weight of the insects in each sample was measured a startling decline was revealed. The annual average fell by 76% over the 27 year period, but the fall was even higher – 82% – in summer, when insect numbers reach their peak. read more

However, we know that many species of insects have small ranges, and that the majority of insect diversity and abundance is in tropical rainforests, where a single tree can have 50-250 species of insects on it, and every acre may have at least one unique insect species. read more

A report on insect numbers has been published in the journal ‘Science’. It says the human population has doubled since 1980 while the number of insects has nearly halved. One of the biggest reasons for this loss of insects is deforestation. read more