Butterfly populations are down 12% over the past decadeA report unveiled last week revealed how the world’s insects are heading down the path to extinction which will threaten a “collapse of nature’s ecosystems”. Figures from the National Biodiversity Data Centre reveal Irish butterfly populations have plummeted by a rate of 12% over the past decade while bumblebee numbers are down 14% in the last six years. The public is being urged to let small patches of their gardens grow wild or even allow more time in between lawn cuts to allow flowers to blossom to help reverse the trend of declining insect populations. The global study confirmed more than 40% of insect species are declining and a third are endangered. Mr Murray said the fall in Irish butterfly and bumblebee populations are strong indicators as to the well-being of other insect populations in Ireland but only a fraction are monitored.

Source: Irish Examiner February 18, 2019 05:37 UTC