More or Less What do windscreen splats tell us about insect decline?
Oct 21, 2023
Reporter Perisha Kudhail, Dr Lawrence Ball from Kent Wildlife Trust, and Professor Lynn Dicks from University of Cambridge discuss the 'windscreen phenomenon' and its implications for insect decline. They cover the Bugs Matter Project measuring insect abundance, potential causes for the decline, and studies showing a decrease in insect biomass.
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Listener Windshield Observation Sparks Study
- Listener Janet Watson described far fewer insects splattered on her windscreen after a long car journey.
- This everyday observation motivated the Bugs Matter Project to investigate the 'windscreen phenomenon'.
Number Plates As A Citizen Science Measure
- The Bugs Matter Project uses citizen scientists to count insects on vehicle number plates via an app.
- Aggregated counts over time serve as an indicator of flying insect abundance across the UK.
Large Decline In Vehicle Splats Noted
- Data show a large fall in insects hitting vehicle fronts: around 58% from 2004 to 2021 and 64% to 2022.
- Dr Lawrence Ball warns the study needs more years of data before declaring definitive trends.