9. Ecological Armageddon—insects in decline?

Abstract

‘Ecological Armageddon—insects in decline?’ summarizes the diversity and ubiquity of insects and reviews their origins and marvels at the ways in which insects have adapted to a wide range of environments and the roles that they play in maintaining ecosystem health. It is important to consider the harm that humans are doing to insects and the planet that they inhabit. An increasing number of stories have appeared in the media in recent years, predicting insect apocalypse and ecological Armageddon. There are reliable and robust long-term data sets showing the declines of butterflies and moths over the last half-century or so.