On Earth Day and every day, why and how should we look after insects?
By Thomas Lefebvre, Biotech R&D Innovations Director
What’s small, often forgotten, but crucial to life on Earth? Insects! Frequently ignored, ran away from, or even squashed, insects are living organisms that are essential to the balance of the natural world. They are of vital importance for biodiversity, particularly for the reproduction of plants and regeneration of ecosystems. Unfortunately, not only has their decline been known for several years, it’s accelerating; but we aren’t taking action. In order not to let them disappear in the greatest indifference, it is important to understand their role and the causes of this collapse.
Insects are at the heart of life on Earth
If you look closely, insects are fascinating. We may fear some of them, but they have had us all mesmerized at one time or another gathering flowers, buzzing above our heads, trekking up arduous paths, working together, building shelters… They have even provided many of us with moments of astonishment, joy, and perplexity. But how many of us recognize them as fundamental pillars of our world that we have to protect at all costs?
Insects are the best representatives of biodiversity on Earth. Approximately one million species have been discovered to date, but it is estimated that a total of 8 to 100 million species may exist! Because of their volume and the fact that they are found in almost every habitat, insects occupy a prominent place at the base of the food pyramid. They are an important food source for many insectivorous animals, such as birds, reptiles and small mammals. And they bring the food chain full circle by recycling dead organisms into available material. Their role is fundamental in the complex network of life because they help maintain a balance between different species in the same environment.
Of all the creatures on Earth, insects are the main consumers of plants. They play a major role in the decomposition of plant matter and thus participate in the regeneration of soils. Like little engineers, they work with organic matter to regenerate the soil’s humus. Certain insects called “pollinators” also play a key role in the reproduction of plant species. By rummaging through flowers for food, insects carry pollen grains from one flower to another, and thus ensure the pollination of nearly 90% of all flowering plants! That is 30% of the plants we eat.
The participation of insects in the balance of the natural world is vital, both for the living beings that inhabit the planet, and for us, human beings. However, in recent years, experts have warned us about their decline. Scientific studies have shown alarming results on the evolution of the entomological fauna and the effects that such a disappearance would have on biodiversity.
The sixth mass extinction
The disappearance of insects is not a recent phenomenon. In fact, the first signs of their collapse appeared in the 1960s. The book Silent Spring, by biologist and author Rachel Carson, was the first book to denounce the harmful effects of pesticides on their health. This ecological manifesto was clear on the collapse of our biodiversity, but it took half a century for farmers and public authorities to even begin taking an interest.
Recently, studies have confirmed this silent crisis, highlighting the rapidity of the phenomenon of insect extinction. An article recently published in the Cambridge Biological Review tells us that more than half a million insects are threatened with extinction over the next ten decades. A team of American and French researchers insists on the need to consider this major biodiversity crisis as a sixth great mass extinction and alerts us to the urgency of the climate crisis.
Human activities are the main cause of the mass extinction of insects. Urbanization, pollution, destruction of natural habitats through deforestation and the development of intensive agriculture have made entire regions uninhabitable and have contributed to the decline of thousands of insects. Intensive agriculture, practiced with large quantities of pesticides, has particularly impacted soil fauna. Since the introduction of these chemicals in Europe, some regions have lost up to 80% of the insects present on their territory!
In addition to this disastrous result, other species are gradually disappearing from the food chain. Moreover, the disappearance of insects can be fatal for all living things. Their decline has led to the death of many animal and plant species in recent years, including birds, whose populations have declined by 30% in 30 years. The expression “silent spring” by Rachel Carson, to speak of bird-less seasons, has become part of everyday language…
We, entomologists, have noticed a real change in insect fauna over the last ten years. A flagrant example is the mass arrival of foraging insects in cities, after having fled the countryside, whose soils have become impermeable and toxic. This process of urbanization has been accelerated by the development of monoculture in our countryside. Some opportunistic insects have managed to adapt, but the more specialized insects have had to move to cities or have become extinct with the destruction of their natural habitat. There is also a great abundance of insect pests.
These changes signal an extinction that is already very advanced. But despite these sad discoveries, science reminds us of one important thing: there is still time to act!
How can we protect insects?
Luckily, humans play a huge role in the development of living environments, so we can have a significant influence on fauna and flora. Equally, our actions can have deleterious effects on the environment, such as the destruction of natural habitats and the disappearance of insect populations. However, these effects are, at least in part, reversible.
To help ecosystems to rebuild, and protect the living organisms within them, we can act on several levels.
1) Accelerate environmentalism through public policies
First and foremost, public policies have a decisive role to play in environmental and climate issues, particularly in the management of landscapes and the redesign of our agriculture. They alone have the power to support farmers to become more sustainable. They must support and encourage them to switch to mixed farming while limiting the use of insecticides. Insects will not return until we adopt a more varied and respectful agricultural model for macrofauna.
2) Preserve natural habitats
We must also preserve natural habitats and their diversity by acting against deforestation, the destruction of wetlands and the fragmentation of habitats. However, this also involves simpler actions such as reducing lighting at night and creating protected areas.
3) (Re)build insect-friendly spaces
These global actions to limit the destruction of natural habitats can of course be accompanied by citizen actions. Each of us can help insects to rebuild their habitat by building composters, insect hotels, etc. Planting a vegetable garden or flowers can also encourage insects to return by creating an environment that is favorable to their development.
4) Follow an environmentally-friendly diet
Another way to protect ecosystems is to eat organic products and vary the fruits and vegetables you eat. All our food choices have a direct impact on the living world. They can contribute to its destruction, as well as its development.
5) Develop your curiosity and raise awareness!
The last, but perhaps the most essential action point, is to learn more about the huge world our tiny companions inhabit! Cultivate wonder; discover the smaller details of Mother Nature. All I can suggest is to avert your gaze downwards to take a closer look at the life below our feet.
In the midst of a sixth mass extinction, insects are the most threatened of all, as well as the most important to preserve. Their preservation would strengthen our ecosystems at their foundations; the protection of their environment would boost all biodiversity. It’s time to acknowledge that insects represent an incredible resource, the most abundant one that Nature gave us.
After all they’ve done for the environment and humanity, let’s start treating them with the respect they deserve; in any case, for the sake of our planet, we don’t have much choice!
