Bugs Matter survey finds that UK flying insects have declined by nearly 60% in less than 20 years.
The 2021 Bugs Matter findings, which are published in a report released by Kent Wildlife Trust and Buglife (Bugs Matter Report 2021), show that the number of insects splatting on vehicle number plates reduced by 58.5% between 2004 and 2021.
The findings of this survey provide the latest evidence that insects are struggling in the British Isles.
To view the full report, please visit: The Bugs Matter Citizen Science Survey – Full Report
To view the report summary, please visit: The Bugs Matter Citizen Science Survey – Summary Report
The Bugs Matter project, led by Kent Wildlife Trust and Buglife, and supported by a number of other partner organisations, is one of the UK’s few citizen science surveys of insect abundance.
Inspired by the ‘windscreen phenomenon’, a term given to the observation that fewer insects are squashed on the windscreens of cars today compared to the past, Bugs Matter enlists the help of the public to monitor the health of the UK’s insect populations.
The concept is simple: before making an essential journey in a vehicle, participants clean their number plates. After each journey, the insects squashed on the number plate are counted using a ‘splatometer’ grid, which participants can either print out themselves or receive in the post after having downloaded the Bugs Matter app. Participants submit count data and photographs via the dedicated app.
Download the Bugs Matter app to take part in this year’s survey, from 1 June to 31 August 2022. Taking part is quick, free and easy.
- iOS App Store: Bugs Matter on the App Store (apple.com)
- Google Play: Bugs Matter – Apps on Google Play
For more information and to take part in this year’s Bugs Matter surveys, please visit: Bugs Matter – Buglife
