‘Alarming’ bug splat decline on UK cars raises fears for flying insect numbers
- Annual survey of number plates from more than 25,000 journeys reveals 63% fall in squashed bugs since 2021
Story by @patrickbarkham.bsky.social
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Thank you to everyone who participated in Bugs Matter in 2024.
As we continue to gather data our understanding of the health of our insect populations grows; please get involved in Bugs Matter in 2025 - the survey runs from May - September & this year is extended to the Republic of Ireland.
Human activities continue to have a huge impact on nature, habitat loss and damage, pesticide use, pollution, and climate change all contribute to the decline in insects. Society must heed the warning signs of ecological collapse, and take urgent action to restore nature.
The consequences are potentially far-reaching, not only impacting the health of the natural world, but affecting so many of the essential services that nature provides for us.
Our Bugs Matter survey in partnership with @kentwildlife.bsky.social Trust has found further declines in flying insects.
The latest data indicates that the abundance of flying insects in the UK has fallen by a staggering 63% since 2021.
www.buglife.org.uk/news/bugs-ma...
#Buglife #BugsMatter
Curtains for Light Pollution is raising awareness of how everyone can help reduce light pollution and the impact it has on wildlife and people.
We are 95% of the way towards hitting out fundraising target - donate today and your contributions will be doubled!
donate.biggive.org/campaign/a05...
A camera-shy female Black Oil Beetle (Meloe proscarabaeus) at Wembury Point, South Devon today.
The #LifeOnTheEdge project would like to know if you have seen any oil beetles on the S Devon coast: www.southdevon-nl.org.uk/life-on-the-...
#Buglife #SouthDevonNL #NationalTrust
Pet fur found in bird nests contains high levels of pesticides - new evidence on the ecological impacts of flea treatments: www.theguardian.com/environment/...
“If ministers don’t want to be challenged in the courts, they should act within the law” not block one of the few levers we have to protect the environment.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
UK Governments are failing in their commitments to nature:
England www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Scotland www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
Wales www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
3 countries,same over-arching issues: lack of urgency,lack of action & lack of investment in nature's recovery
Species on the Edge Winter talk series: speciesontheedge.co.uk/events/winte...
Find out more about some of the projects that make up #SpeciesOnTheEdge
Where to look? Damp woodlands with lots of moss-covered old trees and deadwood- what some people now call "Atlantic rainforest". Known hotspots in Devon and Cornwall are woodlands in the south of Dartmoor, and east of Bodmin Moor. Old records from the Tamar Valley- would be great to find it there!
Help blue beetles this #BlueMonday!
If you have seen a Blue Ground Beetle in Devon or Cornwall please let us know. Your record will help us to better understand how this magnificent is doing, and maybe discover new populations!
www.buglife.org.uk/news/help-bl...
#Buglife #BlueBugs
A table showing government progress on various environmental trends in 2023 to 2024.
🔍The Office for Environmental Protection has assessed government progress on the environment in 2023-24.
📉 The verdict? It's largely off track.
🚀 This government can catch up if it acts now.
www.theoep.org.uk/report/gover...
Fantastic beasts and where to find them!
The Buglife Bug Directory is jam packed full of amazing creature features - find out more about the small things that run the world:
www.buglife.org.uk/bugs/bug-dir...
Last year Buglife undertook global IUCN Red List assessments for 20 of the 22 endemic invertebrate species in the UK. This blog explains the results of this assessment.
🧪 🌍 #invertebrates #conservation #entomology #biology #science #RedList #IUCN
biologicalrecording.co.uk/2024/07/19/e...
A very exciting opportunity to work with Buglife in Cornwall!
Why not come and join our lovely south west team and work on a fantastic project helping threatened invertebrates around the beautiful Cornish coast
www.buglife.org.uk/job/conserva...
Glorious up on Dartmoor today!
Okay, here we go!
