Scientists have come up with an interesting way to find out the state of insect populations. They count the number of dead animals on the license plate, and the results are clear: the number of dead insects on the front of cars in Great Britain has fallen by no less than 78 percent in twenty years.
Biodiversity is declining
Entomologists warn that the dramatic figures reflect the worrying state of nature. Biodiversity is visibly declining. Insects pollinate crops, provide natural pest control, break down waste and are important for the food chain. The research was conducted under the auspices of ‘Kent Wildlife Trust and Buglife’, the BBC reports.
Nitrogen, pesticides, climate change
According to experts, the decline in insect numbers is linked to global habitat loss, climate change, pollution and the use of pesticides. In the Netherlands, the decline in insect numbers is due to the increased amount of nitrogen compounds in nature. “It seems that so-called pollinating insects, which are crucial for many crops, are particularly affected by this,” researcher Juan Gallego-Zamorano from Radboud University in Nijmegen told the AD.
Counting insect bodies
Since the original study in 2004, data from almost 26,500 journeys across Britain has been analysed. To participate in the program, drivers had to clean their license plate before taking a long drive, record the route on their cell phone and then count the insects squashed on it.
Tags: result dead insects windshield bumper
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