A study has found that insects in Sussex have declined by 37%. Surveys were carried out on the South Downs by the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT) on the arable fields, with invertebrate samples collected annually every third week of June over 50 years. Invertebrates declined by 37%, with fungivores, herbivores, predators, parasitoids and dung-eaters declining significantly.
Aphids declined by a staggering 90%, however were still among the most abundant groups recorded. Other the most abundant species included springtails, flies, thrips, parasitic wasps and beetles. A total of 2.
89 million invertebrates were collected during the study, which took place from 1970 to 2019. The trust has linked the decline to climate change, pesticide use and other factors (Image: Mick Page) The GWCT has linked the decline to changes in crop types, field size, pesticide use and weather. The organisation said: “This is in line with a large body of research, which suggests that climate change and intensification of agriculture are major drivers of changes in invertebrate abundance.
“Very dry or very wet conditions, brought about by weather pattern changes, can have a negative impact on invertebrate species.” It also highlighted the benefits of invertebrates on this type of land, such as “supporting food production and the farmland ecosystem”. READ MORE: Sussex beauty spot contaminated with pharmaceutical drugs It said: “These include control of crop pests, improving the heal.