Large decline in insects – NRK Norway – Overview of news from different parts of the country

For many, buzzing is a sign of summer, but in recent years there have been fewer insects in Norway.

– In the four years we have investigated the amount of insects, we have seen a decrease in all areas we have investigated.

That’s what researcher Jens Åström of the Norwegian Institute for Natural Sciences (NINA) says.

The insect monitoring shows that the decline has been an average of 14 per cent per year.

Germany’s alarming findings

– The most dramatic news in several years.

It was one of several reactions when research from Germany showed that 75 percent of the insects had disappeared.

The research was published in 2017 and at that time no one could answer how the total amount of insects in Norway was.

That was the reason why an insect count was started, also in this country.

National insect surveillance

In 2020, the Norwegian Institute for Environmental Research began setting out traps.

They started in Eastern Norway, but have gradually expanded to the whole country.

– Between 100 and 1000 species fly into an insect trap within two weeks. There could be thousands of individuals, Åström explains.

Altogether, they have observed more than 20,000 species, but they cannot name them all.

The weather affects the insects

After four years, large amounts of data have been collected. The figures show that the decline is large.

Four years is still not a long time.

It is too early to say whether this is a sign of a long-term trend or random variations.

– When we talk about changes within a couple of years, it probably has a lot to do with the weather, says Åström.

With a good snow cover, the insects survive better. Mild winters with little snow can cause problems. In the summer, the insects like sun and warmth.

He believes that there is a slow decline in insects in the country, but has faith that the sharp decline in insects, as the monitoring shows, will pick up if we get better weather.

– This is probably a relatively random trend.

– But we don’t know.

Link to climate change

– It is an important link to establish, that the insects also depend on the weather.

That’s what Thomas Holmert, who is a senior adviser at the Norwegian Environment Agency, says.

The directorate commissioned the research. The findings worry Holmert because the weather will become more extreme.

– This means that the link to ongoing climate change will be very strong.

He says that this shows that unpredictable weather and more extreme weather will affect the insects.

– We are concerned about the negative consequences this will have.

– At the same time, it is a short time series, so here we have to follow what will happen in the future.

Vital

On the streets of Oslo, they have slightly different views on the decline.

– I think that is sad.

– We need them.

– I think it’s fine, but I understand that they are good for the ecosystem.

But while insects can also be annoying, they are absolutely necessary.

Åström in NINA says that the insects carry out pollination. In addition, they are food for many other species, such as birds. The insects also eat plants and are important decomposers.

In various researches, changes in land use, more intensive agriculture, excessive use of insecticides and climate change are highlighted as reasons for the loss of insects.