The insect extinction crisis has reached catastrophic proportions, with 40% of insect species in global decline. This “insect apocalypse” poses an existential threat to the systems that sustain human life, surpassing the urgency of protecting charismatic species like pandas. While the world focuses on iconic mammals, we are silently losing the true engineers of our ecosystems.
The Magnitude of the Crisis: Alarming Figures
Alarming Global Data
- -75% of flying insect biomass in European protected areas (1989-2025)
- 1-2% annual decline in global insect populations
- 150 insect species go extinct every day (vs. 1 mammal every 5 years)
- 85% of flowering plants depend on insect pollinators
Spain: A Biodiversity Hotspot in Danger
- 28% of Spanish insect species at risk of extinction
- -60% of butterflies in agricultural habitats since 1990
- -80% of dung beetles in Iberian dehesas (pasturelands)
Why Do Insects Matter More Than Pandas?
Critical Ecosystem Functions
1. Pollination: The Foundation of Our Food
- 75% of food crops depend on insect pollinators
- Global economic value: €577 billion annually
- Specific examples:
- Almonds: 100% dependent on honeybees
- Cacao: Exclusively pollinated by Forcipomyia midge
- Tomatoes: Require bumblebee buzzing for pollination
2. Biological Pest Control
- Pesticide savings: €100 billion annually worldwide
- Key species:
- Ladybugs: Consume 5,000 aphids in their lifetime
- Parasitoid wasps: Control 80% of agricultural pests
- Ground beetles: Natural predators of slugs and snails
3. Nutrient Recycling and Decomposition
- Processing of Manure: Dung beetles recycle 1.4 billion kg annually
- Wood decomposition: Termites and wood-boring beetles release nutrients
- Soil aeration: Earthworms and larvae improve soil structure
4. Base of the Food Chain
- 60% of birds depend on insects to feed their young
- Insectivorous bats: Consume 1,000 mosquitoes per hour
- Freshwater fish: 80% of their diet consists of aquatic insects
The Top 5 Threats to Insects
1. Neurotoxic Pesticides
- Neonicotinoids: 10,000 times more toxic to bees than DDT
- Sublethal effects: Disorientation, memory loss, reduced fertility
- Accumulation in soils: Persist for up to 19 years
2. Habitat Loss and Fragmentation
- Urbanization: 55% of wetlands have disappeared in Spain since 1900
- Intensive agriculture: Monocultures without flower margins
- Artificial lighting: Attracts and kills 100 trillion nocturnal insects annually
3. Climate Change
- Phenological shift: Insects emerge before the plants they depend on
- Climate zones shifting: 17 km towards the poles every decade
- Extreme events: Floods that drown underground bee colonies
4. Invasive Species
- Asian hornet (Vespa velutina): Devours 25-50 bees per day per individual
- Gypsy moth: Defoliates millions of hectares of forest
- Tiger mosquito: Vector of diseases that displaces native species
5. Light and Noise Pollution
- Fatal attraction: Nocturnal insects circle lights until they die
- Communication interference: Human noise masks chemical and Vibratory
- Migratory Disruption: City lights divert moth migrations
Consequences of Insect Disappearance
Imminent Food Collapse
- Without pollinating insects:
- Fruits and vegetables: -90% production
- Coffee and chocolate: Production impossible
- Livestock feed: -70% availability
- UN estimate: Only 60 global crops without pollinators
Soil Degradation
- Without decomposers:
- Accumulation of unprocessed organic matter
- Soil compaction and erosion
- Loss of natural fertility
Proliferation of pests and diseases
- Without natural predators:
- Vector mosquitoes would increase by 300%
- Agricultural pests without biological control
- Need for massive chemical pesticides
Loss of dependent species
- Domino effect:
- Insectivorous birds: Population declines of 45% in 20 years
- Amphibians: 70% of species threatened
- Bats: 30% decline in areas of intensive agriculture
Solutions That Work: What We Can Do
At an Individual Level
- Insect-Friendly Gardens:
- Native plants with staggered flowering
- Unmowed areas and “insect hotels”
- Total elimination of chemical pesticides
- Conscious Consumption:
- Certified organic products
- Responsible urban beekeeping
- Reduced food waste
At the Community Level
- Urban Green Corridors:
- Green roofs and walls with native plants
- Flower strips in parks and streets
- Artificial wetlands for aquatic insects
- Local Policies:
- Reduced nighttime lighting
- Management of green spaces without pesticides
- Environmental education in schools
At the Political Level
- Agricultural Reform:
- Payments for ecosystem services to farmers
- Mandatory crop rotation and flower strips
- Total ban on neonicotinoids
- Habitat Protection:
- Micro-reserves for endemic insects
- Connecting habitat fragments
- Restoration of wetlands and Grasslands
Hope in Science and Technology
Monitoring with Artificial Intelligence
- Citizen Apps: iNaturalist, eButterfly
- Acoustic Sensors: Automatic Identification of Cricket Songs
- Environmental DNA: Detection of Rare Species in Soil Samples
Innovative Conservation
- Gene Banks: Conservation of Critical Species
- Captive Breeding: Programs for Specialized Pollinators
- Targeted Restoration: Reintroduction of Ecosystem Engineers
Regenerative Agriculture
- Agroecology: Systems that Mimic Natural Ecosystems
- Pollinating Robotics: A Temporary Solution While We Recover Natural Populations
- Biopesticides: Fungi and Bacteria that Specifically Control Pests
The Cost of Inaction
Economic
- Loss of Ecosystem Services: €235 billion annually in the EU
- Cost of Manual Pollination: €15-€25 per tree vs. €0 with insects
- Price Increases Food: Estimated +150% without pollinators
Social
- Food insecurity: 2.3 billion people affected
- Loss of natural medicines: 50% of drugs derived from insects or their host plants
- Disappearance of cultures: Traditional knowledge about edible and medicinal insects
Existential
- Altered Earth system: Insects regulate critical biogeochemical cycles
- Loss of resilience: Ecosystems less able to adapt to change
- Biological simplification: Towards a planet of weeds, pests, and pathogens
“Saving pandas is important, but saving insects is saving the systems that make life possible for pandas… and for us” — Dr. Javier Méndez, entomologist at the CSIC (Spanish National Research Council).
