Mexico City. – The number of insects on Earth has decreased over the years, and this worries biodiversity experts, because the fact that bees or butterflies are at risk of extinction is a significant problem for the environment.
Scientists from the Johannes Gutenberg University in Germany have been tracking this situation, and Professor Florian Menzel referred to it as a decline in insect populations, which was touched upon by the Royal Society through an article published in the specialized journal Biology Letters.
In this study, it is concluded that there are many factors that play against the insect universe, which are influenced by land use, climate change and the spread of invasive animal species as a result of trade.
For his part, Gustavo Zurita, researcher at the Institute of Subtropical Biology (IBS), said that the problem has grown over the years, in fact, he pointed out that people who have had car experiences since, he explains, In the past it was very easy for a vehicle to become infested with insects such as moths or mosquitoes, which are rarely seen when out on the road today.
“People naturally reject these animals because they are so far from each other, they are not dogs or cats. There is a lot of ignorance about their impact on the environment, a lot of education is needed,” biologist Luis Fernando Fortich told Telam.
What would happen if insects became extinct?
This is not a new question that experts are asking, but it is of most concern, as a hypothetical extinction of insects would result in changes in the trophic chain.
For example, if insects disappear, it will be a devastating blow to those who eat them, such as frogs, reptiles, or birds, who will be the next to die.
With the extinction of each species, the next rung in the chain will be affected, which means that, inevitably, the consequences will reach humans.
It is important to note that insects play a very important role in plant life, and without them there would be no pollination, which is largely done by bees, wasps, moths, butterflies and flies.
