Insect Decline: Welfare Implications of the Global Pollinator Crisis

Catastrophic declines in insect populations affect ecological systems on which millions of species depend, raising questions about the welfare of both declining insects and the animals that rely on them.

Key Facts

Insect biomass has declined by an estimated 75% in European protected areas over 27 years
Habitat loss, pesticide use, light pollution and climate change are identified as primary drivers of decline
Insects are estimated to provide ecosystem services worth over $57 billion annually in the USA alone
Insectivorous bird, bat and amphibian populations are declining in parallel with insect prey availability
Rewilding, reduced pesticide use and habitat creation are proven interventions for insect conservation
Urban areas managed for wildlife can provide important refuge habitat for declining insect species

Welfare Considerations

Insect decline creates welfare consequences extending far beyond insects themselves. Insectivorous animals including swallows, bats, frogs and countless invertebrate predators face chronic food insecurity as prey availability collapses. The ecological cascade from insect decline translates into malnutrition, reduced reproductive success and elevated mortality for species with no direct relationship to the human activities driving insect loss. Reversing insect decline through habitat creation, pesticide reduction and light pollution management is an animal welfare intervention at ecosystem scale.

What You Can Do

Create insect habitat in your garden using native wildflowers, log piles and leaf litter
Eliminate pesticide use in gardens and advocate for reduced agricultural pesticide application
Support insect-friendly lighting policies to reduce light pollution impacts on nocturnal insects
Choose food produced with lower pesticide impact through organic and integrated pest management
Join insect monitoring schemes to contribute to population data collection