To put things bluntly, without bugs, we wouldn’t be around. That’s why a recent report outlining the drastic decline in insect life around the world is so worrying. According to the best data available, the total mass of insects is falling at a rate that suggests they could vanish within a century. Yes, the report paints a grim picture of the future, but the good thing is there are plenty of things humans can do to turn the situation around.
The first thing you can do is grow more flowers and plants around your home—a.k.a bug food. Urbanization has led to areas that had once been flourishing with different types of floras to be replaced with concrete sidewalks and grass lawns, but by growing a diverse range of different flowers, you will provide food for a whole lot of crawling pollinators.
Another way to save insects is by reconsidering your eating habits. Pesticides are responsible for killing bugs at an alarming rate, so choosing foods that aren’t grown using pesticides helps spare insects while encouraging organic or sustainable farming.
The next thing you should do is contact your representatives. Real pressure needs to be placed on the corporations who benefit from all this pesticide use, meaning we need new policies on both local and federal levels that will lessen our reliance on these insect-killing chemicals.
And lastly, don’t give up hope: the reports may suggest insect extinction is possible, but that doesn’t mean it’s a certainty. Keep the faith and do your part in helping them thrive.
