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south is here and these are the top stories and columbia for children missing since a plane crash in the south of the country. last month had been found to live the children who a siblings on between 12 months and 13 years old. they were found by rescue team comprised of military members, firefighters and civil aviation officials. as is america, they are receiving medical attention. they will remain in san jose to grab the audi during the 1st few days. if the doctor's advice will be brought to bogota, v. c, n 0. depends, you know what the doctor say? i've tried to speak with them tomorrow. the russian president vladimir boots and says he believes ukraine's offensive has be gotten on this thing. last week has seen intense baffles, but keith has maintained silence area. russia's defense ministry announced that his forces had repelled several attacks by the ukrainian army. meanwhile,

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willing to negotiate because the ukraine war becoming a forever war is america's global leadership, increasingly fragile. what will us politics look like? as we headed the presidential election of 2024, quizzical look. us politics to boston, line the welcome to the stream. i'm heidi joe castro, too often we see in the sex as irritating past. the scientists say funds are declining a number around the world, and that has severe ramifications for humans. today we look at why so many insect spaces are at risk and what can be done to protect them. it's got hoffman black is executive director of the service, the society incentive this comment about this emergency we are seeing

unprecedented declines and insect populations from around the world. these declines are from all insect types. start pollinators that pollinate, are across to the aquatic insects that feed our fish and other insects that feed birds and baths and provide innumerable services that we need on this planet. this is a crisis and we must take action soon to address these issues. joining us today, erica mcallister is an entomologist and senior care right there as a natural history museum in london. david wilson is a professor of biology at the university of sussex and also the founder of the bump will be conservation trust. he is here, the town of ox field and east sussex. and eliza greens is a biology researcher at the university of nevada. she joins us from dallas, texas. and of course, you can be part of this conversation. please send us any comments or questions, mia? our live youtube chat to thank you to our guest so much for joining us for this important

discussion. first, establishing what this concern is the best guess from most scientists is that the rate of global insect decline is currently one to 2 percent a year. now. so the average person that may not sound quite like a crisis, but erica, why is it that many scientists would say this is an emergency? and that's quite a lot of reasons. one of them is that this, this figure is actually from not from a very short period of time. i think david will be able to tell you more about this . save, sorry, but what it is important is the ultimate is dominated by and 6. so a to, to said the described for now that is described for the using 6. so when we start losing these, we are losing essential parts. so ecosystem says everyone's now very much aware of the polonaise isn't, that's really important. but the recycling decomposes all of these,

we still getting rid of these and compressed as right. we don't know how long each of the systems can function in a healthy way. yeah. and that, that one to 2 percent a year figure, that's a count. pounding rate, isn't it? so it's, it does the get worse with each passing here? our next question actually comes from a youtube watcher. are there a particular countries or regions most at risk? i want to ask eliza a. yeah. um, so one of the issues that we have with understanding insect decline is that a lot of the data such that we have to be able to estimate those rates of one to 2 percent per year come from north america in europe. where we have monitoring schemes going back to, you know, the 19 sixty's 19 seventies, but most of the insect bad versity is in the tropics where we don't have as good monitoring data historically. and so we have a lot of concerns, but there's potential for huge lots of fighters to be in probably go systems that

we don't have to monitor any data to understand that. and even with the estimate, the rates of one to 2 percent per year, that's usually coming from the best possible habitats. because when you want to have a multiple decades of data, you know, 50 years or longer to estimate it trends, you're going to go to have the tests that are going to remain intact for a long period of time as opposed to areas that might be converted from natural ends to more modified systems. and so there's kind of a conflict between where we have data from and where we're most concerned. i'm pretty certain and way regions with really high impact diversity are a concern. yeah, well well let's look at some of the, oh yes, go ahead a yeah, i was just gonna say it's worth remembering that the data we have tends to be quite recent with any started kind thing. insects at the very earliest. i'm butterflies, we started counting in the 19 seventy's. i'm and this rate of one to 2 percent. um

it doesn't assign like much, but when do you think the probably these decline started much earlier than the 1970s. the, the, the drivers have insight decline sudden you started perhaps in the 1940s, perhaps the live or not. so one to 2 percent a yeah. after a to use so many turns into a really big number. yeah, it does. and it's spreading too many groups. let's look at some of those groups. we have be the beatles butterflies and mocks fresh water, insects. they are all under threats. so we're not just talking about bumblebees anymore. are we dave? no, so i do not all of those bases in by especially i don't have to, i guess, but sorry, you mentioned the box but that he is chasing around after them and they're really important. but we should get all focused on these, these a great, they are really important as pollinators. but erica would be the 1st to tell you that there are lots of other insects doing important things. and in their own way, that just as valuable just as vital to us. absolutely. let's actually talk about

another one of those insects that has recently gained more attention. the monarch butterfly. in march, the world wildlife fund said that their numbers dropped 22 percent in a year in their wintering habitat. our reporter manny raffle. lo, went there to see for himself it's one of the most spectacular mass migrations in the animal kingdom. monarch butterflies. millions of them arriving at their winter habitat in central mexico. of this year, the international union for the conservation of nature officially designated the migrating monarch butterfly as endangered experts say the use of pesticides along with the loss of habitat or the biggest threats to the species increased for spires and unusual weather patterns linked to climate change have also been linked to their decline. this means protected forest like a little side of the largest butterfly sanctuary and central mexico bar of vital importance. eliza, i want to get back to, you know,

some of the causes and also the consequences a little bit later. but for now, something that erica said earlier that there are potentially millions of species that are undescribed or for the labor as an undiscovered. so i, is it troublesome that we may be losing species faster than we can even know the exist? yeah, absolutely. um, no, there's an estimated, i think it's 5500000 is our best estimate right now of how many insects pcs there are, which is kind of in the astronomical number to put it in context is about 10000 birds vc. so we're talking, you know, orders of magnitude more than 60, he's believe only describe 1500000 of them. so, you know, there's generally 4000000 species that could go extinct before they're even described by western science. and so that's a huge concern that we don't even know really what we're dealing with in some situations. yeah. but you know, people have been noticing the decline of insects in some unexpected ways. like

finding fewer dead bugs flattered on their cars after a long drive. and there's actual data on this. in the u. k. the kids while live trust has an app that allows people to track the number of bugs found splattered on their license plate. using this very sign, typically named splits habit or grad and i think there are a lot of people contributing and all this on his side. so the results have been worry some because the amount of bugs flattered, declined by 72 percent between 242021 in the study is ongoing. erica, are we seen as evidence of the insect decline in everyday life for humans? yes. um, way, way, um, well i do because i study insects i'm seeing, i'm seeing a massive loss of them everywhere. i'm just and this is going to have an impact on 2. all right, so this is the one thing that directly impacts on us, the food. yeah,

you talk about the moment migration of every spring in the u. k. 4000000000 hold the flies to not full 1000000000. so when we start seeing adverse effects due to a maybe 5 years old or other impacts of climate change or pesticides. and as far as treat impacting on that migrate, we, we, we're going to suddenly see the crops have not only not got the pollinators, but a lot of these hold us life and all they can see the pets. so that's very, very important in that way. so we're gonna have a direct impact on the quality of our food. yeah, i have read that the vast majority of human crops are paul needed by insects. and i want to bring up a picture that's on my laptop and parts of world china. i have been dealing with this problem for a while, the loss of pollinators. so this article from huntington post is about hon. you on county known as the world's pear capital and it experienced

a drastic reduction in the b population due to pesticide use that leaves humans like this man. and this woman trying to fill in on that position of pollinate, or by using brushes and the others to do the job. and then another example, people in outlines romans as pollinators. dave, i imagine that while very innovative, the solutions are probably not so efficient nor sustainable. i know it does seem really sad that we've come to a state where we're thinking about replacing these. we bro bought drains, doesn't the, i don't want to live in that world if i want to stay. and when do you think about it? i these of been pulling 18 fluwens for a 120000000 years or verified. so they really go to that, that the buy degradable less self replicating the carbon neutral they seem to have kind of all the profit as you'd want of a poem, a to to we really think we could do better. and you think of the energy,

the plastics, the metals, the, the, all the materials it would need to build. we would need to build trillions of robots to, to replace insights. it's, it's kind of, i think it's an option. the bulk is i did it myself. yeah. and there was a study from harvard school of public health that found already the global decline in bees. and other pollinators is daunting. the yields of fruits and vegetables and knots down by 3 to 5 percent a year. so this certainly is impacting the human food supply, but i want to talk about the food chain as well in greater detail. and of course, and i just can, i just have them sit with eric holidays as well. so these are a lot of these quotes, this thing why it's not just be as low as it does, is we've talked themselves have a better, a huge amount of but the best. so for example, chocolate, which most of the world cries is pulling a tooth by about $25.00 species of which $23.00 of those of the tiny midges, uh,

the americans call them no. see. you know that, that really, really hard to match and trying to create the drugs for that impact. it's a, it's the idea of who you are and suddenly not having to pull in mesa is for the well, most favorite crop seems ridiculous. then people will surely wake up if they do are they are to neither chocolate. but i want to talk about this food chain because of course, we're not the only species on this planet. and basically, every other living animal is doing is going to depend on insects. here's another picture on my computer. this is from reuters and it shows you pretty obviously the insects are forming the foundation of the food chain. eliza, what happens to all these animals if they no longer have insects to eat? yeah, there's a big concern that especially with a very simple burns um, with uh, insight to preferred receiving decline. it rates much steeper than birds that rely on other food sources such as caesar grain. and this is the prostate songbirds

about 90 to 96 percent of the unburdening rely on insects at least for some part of their annual cycle, especially for misapplied protein for chick rearing. and there's also all sorts of other brands that people don't often think of as eating insects, but they've really rely on that many hummingbird need insight to be able to raise checks. and we're seeing declined across species to rely on insects, especially like the american castro is a rafter that specializes on incense and well other rafters are increasing as a result of the sort of legislation that being d d t and his wife is our after 3. but we're still seeing the kinds of capitals because they're losing the food source. and of course, it's not just bring it back in reptiles and all sorts of other animals that rely on infection. so, you know, intellect plan, is it just that impacts it's really low by diversity loss as a whole. yes, it's about the, the entire earth. so that brings us to this big question. oppose it to you,

dave. what is behind this decline of insect? there are many drivers, sadly, so habitat last globally which is still ongoing. we're still chopping down rain forests and replacing the me sort of being fields and couple ranches in the spread of intensive farming. and the associated heavy pesticide use is a really big issue. we manufacture by 4000000 tons of pesticides every year. many of them are insecticides designed to kill insects. so we shouldn't be entirely surprised, but insects of declining. yeah. but then there are other issues to climate change you starting to kick in effect in my humble these are the hate i'm light pollution is effects adoptable, insects, chemical problems with invasive species and so on and so on. and it's, it's the combination of these things. what's the real problem, you know, insights a pretty tough. they've been around for 419000000 years. it's twice as long as the oldest dinosaur. while i may survive over mass extinction events,

but the when before, but neither in trouble and it's entirely done to us. well, can they survive us? that's the question. erica, is there such a thing as a point of no return? when enough insects die that we do see a collapse of the entire eco system, or the think where the n 6 will suffer. in the meantime, um, as with all the mass extinction events they've gone before. when the driver of that extinction event is gone, the other populations bump that we all the driver. i think the models the bush for it. so the be the ones who really truly gonna suffer this. we, we all the ones causing this extension. we will run out of food, we will run out to things long before all the insects die out. that is um, really putting things in perspective in a very concerning way. let's talk about what can be done potentially to prevent that from happening with let's hear from vicki. heard the officer of re bugging the

planet who sent us this comment from london. it is got to stop the intensive farming systems, the chemicals, the climate change, the have a type disruption that he's doing this. otherwise we, we won't be able to feed ourselves. so let's get real and acting to protect the insects. there are some governments around the world who are taking action. eliza, can you point out some of the good examples? so um, yeah, so uh, several years ago there was a study that came out of germany that was showing this 75 percent decline and finance. at 5 estimate, german government responded very quickly and put, you know, millions of dollars of funding into studying insect declined and understanding the causes and working on conservation. and that was a really huge step for, you know, getting the global community energized about addressing this issue. and it would be great if there are more countries following c. yeah, i'm erica. you recently just testified before the u. k. problem and select

committee on insects. what was your message to them? oh, well actually both dave and i did as well. so um, uh um, message was there's a lot that needs doing, but there's also a lot of information already out there at a loss of the community. the was the community, especially in the u. k. who themselves are doing so much. but we, in terms of recording, in terms of understanding the behavior, instead of looking at the ecology, knowing about insects. and we need to gone or, or of this information together and make accessible in the distributed network as well. globally access all of this information. i wanted to talk to about this, of course climate change is impacting all spaces. and even in this general decline of insects, there are winners as well. they're mostly losers, but there are some winters and that includes unfortunately, mosquitoes who thrive in warm and wet climates. and there have been numbers on

how mosquito borne viruses like dang, game, aleria, cases and humans have risen as the mosquito population in the solomon islands. for example, has risen. it's david, how is this phenomenon imperiling human health? to yeah, there are some insects that are really tough and adaptable at sort of tend to be past insights, things, but insights that thrive in my major conditions. things like high flies and cockroaches and musky to us and so on, make they breed really fast. they become resistant to pesticides very quickly. i'm benefiting from a woman climate so that that is kind of our name. but the majority of insects, including all the ones we love, which are really important, beneficial insights, tend to be declining the one of those we're not so fond of the ones that give us diseases and sounds tend to be the ones that are increasing. so this is kind of

double why me? i guess. oh, well, i want to talk more about what people can do. the internationally renowned chelsea flower show in london featured a wild garden in may. let's hear from the gardens designer about why this could be a model for gardeners everywhere. the same kid, i'm asking people to maybe look at ways in a different way. and so i'd be more totaling up them because they're very good for wildlife in positive a c. m, or a very critical size in our history. positive as the last 5, diversity collapse is a very real said eliza is, is that as simple as that, just let things grow and we can put a dent in solving this problem. yeah, i would say it's not as simple as that. so that is certainly one part of the solution that i mean, tons of land in the united states and in europe is dedicated to bonds. and if we

can diversify those lines, plant needed flowers need a vegetation. that's if that's really critical. host plants and food resources for insects that we care about, and then we want to attract around our homes as opposed to the past. and so you know, it's one thing that can be done, is it? no, no windows still is too small to add a. you know, a small garden but to be able to you and provide some sub over how they are necessary habitat for insect. so, you know, it's part of the solution, but there also needs to be action in a much broader scale and intern of international cooperation. and policy yeah, if i could just jump into it is one of the good things here is, but pretty much everyone can get involved. you know, a lot of conservation issues. people feel helpless, reinforced being cut down or whatever. but with insight declines. if you've got a back yard, if you've got even a window box, grow some insect friendly plans. don't spray them with any pesticides and is amazing. the bees will smith my even in the middle of a city,

and at least you're doing something to help. yeah, there is another, i'm a go higher that at the other the i, we forget to same sex have. this is all those days, this juvenile stage. so as well as doing the plot just puts out some more to have a pot and something like that to encourage it. have a bit of a messy if nature nature has tools. mfc side is by goodness. it's how i do my god. i mean, i don't, i makes and loves it and we can old just to be a bit more relaxed about that. we would have them do. we need to re wild minds. i think just, yes, i'm going to be a little more gentle with us on it. yeah, what about this cute idea? comes from costa rica, be hotels, a place to allow solitary, wild bees, a safe place to go home. here's a sample of that or the last day has k reads that benefit from this type of structure like b hotels,

luminous species. and they have the majority. there are between 60700. the species in costa rica and about 80 or 90 percent of them alone, least it means that each female makes her own nest. they do not live in calling. this kind of amber said video killing most i would say that the most important risk is the loss of habitats. the nice ation in agriculture with juice was also was a nice thing, places and additions nowadays. pesticides are affecting bees along that. all right, in the final 2 minutes of our show, i want to give you guys an opportunity to wind over any nay sayers among our viewers who might still be watching. and just not leaving that insights are worth saving. there's just such a bias against them among us egocentric humans. i think so eric, i why are insects so incredible to you? why should we save them? i think i was all to go remember the insights incredibly beautiful, the wonders creatures and they have these amazing lives. you do not have to go far

to see a creature flowing in front of your life. a creature that is, however many times smaller than you that is still functioning. i'm speeding and flirting and doing all those fun stuff to all the other animals doing a small scale with so many interactions. justin, your god, and just go and have a look. yeah, incredible. dave or yeah, i mean the in, in sites have been to ryan for a very long time. not much longer than us would. i think even whether or not the useful, all of them is a place to live and that is if i respect. but if that doesn't, when you eva, then we mentioned cause a chocolate earlier is dependent on the skin with coffee is also okay. yes. and yeah, well, we wouldn't have coffee either. so with the lady, a terrible world, pretty unpleasant. any advice or eliza? any words of how much you admire instruction, why we should to yeah,

i think it's like they're absolutely incredible. um, just the number of things that they do that we don't even notice. you know, we take insights for granted. so often because the form so many here for some services there. so essentially you can system function that you don't really notice that they're gone until they're no longer filling those roles and serving and pollinators, and tests and decomposing as well. and then when they go away, you start to notice and so i think that speaks volumes to how important they are to the system, not only to humans in terms of ecosystem services and also other tasks that rely on them. and so, you know, conserving in texas really about conserving all batteries. and i think the message certainly as spreading because there has been movements to save bees to save insects. we have another comment from a youtube water saying i'm trying to grow a little pollinate or garden in the back yard. i'm not allowed to have a beehive here, but certainly pollinators, gardens, beautiful, and may just rescue these incredible critters that's all per day today. but thank

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