The results from last year’s Bugs Matter survey have been published – the number of insects sampled on vehicle number plates by citizen scientists across the UK decreased by a staggering 57.8% between 2004 and 2021.
In Gwent, insect numbers have declined by a worrying 40% between 2004 and 2021. You can read the full report here
These figures indicate a rapidly declining trend in insect abundance nationwide. These findings are consistent with research which has widely reported declining trends globally.
Thank you to everyone who took part last year. It is vital we have enough data each survey for it to be reliable. So, on behalf of our insects, please sign-up and be part of this year’s Bugs Matter survey, which runs from June 1 - August 31, because Bugs Matter!
Penny Frith
The Bugs Matter Survey – become a Citizen Scientist
Insects pollinate three-quarters of our food crops, as well as being critical components of ecosystems. However, their numbers are declining.
Bugs Matter is a Citizen Science survey. We want to repeat the survey every year to fully understand local insect populations and how to protect them against further population losses. Monitoring insect numbers also provides a good indicator for measuring the success of our conservation work at a landscape-scale.
Download the app to take part
Sharing the findings from your journeys will help us understand more about our insect populations, as growing evidence highlights their declines on a global scale. Your participation in this nature survey is vital for us to monitor population trends, address causes of insect loss, and halt and reverse them.
By taking part in the Bugs Matter survey, you are contributing important data to identify insect population trends.
If you have a smartphone, you can take part following these easy steps:
- Download the free app which is available in both IOS and Android.
- Create an account to sign up and your splatometer will be posted to you.
- Start surveying on any journey you make in a vehicle between 1st June to 31st August.
- The more essential journeys you conduct the survey on the better - and counts of zero bugs are just as important to submit!
The concept is simple:
- Clean the number plate before making an essential journey in a vehicle.
- When you reach your destination, count the bugs squashed on the number plate using a ‘splatometer’ grid that will be posted to you when you sign up.
- A photo and details must then be submitted via the app.
- You don’t need to be the driver of the vehicle you are travelling in - but you do need their permission.
- The app also includes a tutorial and some safety advice.
Why count squashed insects?
The methodology is based on the ‘windscreen phenomenon’, a term given to the observation that people tend to find fewer insects squashed on the windscreens of their cars compared to several decades ago.
The survey uses an innovative insect sampling method conducted by members of the public to assess the difference in insect abundance over a number of years.
Why do bug splats matter
Insects face mass extinction. They are a critical component of ecosystems and animal life is at risk. Without them, life on earth would simply collapse. Patterns and trends in insect numbers are nuanced however, and there is a need for more data to fully understand what is happening.
You can help by taking part in our survey this summer as well as taking these simple actions at home:
- Using alternatives to peat fertilizer can help reduce CO2 emissions and slow the impact of climate change on insects and our environment.
- Put away the spray - by eliminating or reducing our use of pesticides, we can stop the decline of thousands of insects in an instant.
- Be less tidy - you can help the insects in your garden by letting the grass grow longer and sowing wildflowers. If every garden had a little patch for insects, collectively it would probably be the biggest area of wildlife habitat in the world.
- Watch your footprint - climate change is a growing threat to a wide range of wildlife, including insects. Buy your food from local suppliers, use your local shop, or grow your own vegetables. Not only will this reduce your carbon footprint, it will also help small food producers to compete with big food and farming businesses.
- Join an organisation such as your local Wildlife Trust or Buglife. Charities like these do vital work to protect and restore our most important wildlife sites, restore lost habitats at scale and reconnect our countryside.
Your help is needed to secure a sustainable future for insect life and for ourselves.
Create your own Splatometer
If you live outside of Gwent but travel, work or socialise within the Gwent area you can still take part in our citizen science project Bugs Matter.
Splatometers will not be sent to people who register to take part and live outside of Gwent.
However, you can still sign up with the app and simply download and create your own Splatometer to take part in the survey , using the link below.