Where have all the insects gone in Eagle County?

Insects are small but have a huge impact. Insects represent more than half of all wild species on the planet, with more than a million described species. Their variety amazes some people and disgusts others. Even though they are small, they are vital to the survival of life on this planet. Most insect species are either beneficial or harmless. 

In September, I wrote an article titled, “Where has all the wildlife gone in Eagle County?” The content was about a decline in the populations of the birds and large wildlife species in Eagle County. This article is all about a decline in local populations of insects.

One thing I noticed last summer, and many agree with me, is that I didn’t spend much time at the gas station scrubbing the insects off my windshield. This is one of those conversations I brought up, and the reply was, “Now that you mention it.” Think about that as summer comes into full swing.

Some entomologists estimate that in every decade, we lose 10–20% of the insect population on Earth. In addition, the world has lost 5% to 10% of all insect species in the last 150 years. Other studies estimate that we have lost as much as 45% in the last 40 years. In the United States, estimates are that since 2000, one in five butterfly species has disappeared.

Insects are a class of arthropods with a well-defined head, thorax, and abdomen. In their adult phase, they have three pairs of legs and typically one or two pairs of wings. They have an exoskeleton with a cuticle made of chitin. Some common examples are ants, bees, beetles, bugs, butterflies, caddisflies, crickets, dragonflies, fleas, grasshoppers, mayflies, moths, stoneflies, termites, and wasps.

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Millipedes, centipedes, scorpions, spiders, and ticks aren’t bugs or insects at all. Millipedes have double-footed segments and centipedes have one pair of legs per body segment. The arachnids, like scorpions, spiders, and ticks have eight legs and two body parts.

Insects are vital to ecosystems

Insects have a larger impact than most people are aware of. Insects play significant roles in our ecosystems.

Insects provide high-quality protein and essential nutrients for many animals, particularly birds. According to the American Bird Conservancy, approximately 96% of all terrestrial North American bird species rely on insects for at least part of their diet. Aquatic insects like mayflies, caddisflies and stoneflies are the main food for many fish species, including trout, bass, and salmon. A decline in these insect species will have a significant impact on many animals, particularly birds.

When you need to start cleaning the bugs off your windshield, the environment and the web of life begin to change. The bugs are food for birds like swallows. Those birds are the food for some raptors like peregrine falcons. The bugs are also food for many fish. People who are good at fly-fishing know the patterns of insect hatches and select fly patterns that mimic those insects to attract the fish. 

Insects contribute to human food security by providing a sustainable food source in many regions facing protein shortages or food insecurity. Many are surprised by the fact that over 2 billion people are estimated to eat insects daily. It is also hard to believe, but 2,000 insect species are considered edible. Many researchers are working on industrialized mass production of insects for human food. 

Insects also play a vital role in natural pest control, most often in agricultural settings or greenhouses. By introducing these insects, there can be a large reduction of the use of chemical pesticides that also kill beneficial insects that are food for other animals. 

Busy, busy bees

Butterflies, moths, flies, beetles, wasps, and most importantly, bees are pollinators. One-third of all we eat results from pollination by insects. Pollinator insects also maintain the ecosystems by helping plants reproduce. Between 75% and 95% of all flowering plants on Earth need help with pollination by insects. Bees do the vast majority of that.

As pollinators feed on the nectar in plants, they pick up pollen on their bodies and transfer critical genetic material to other flowering plants. Pollination produces many fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds that humans and animals consume. Bees in the United States also produce around 150 million pounds of honey annually. Billions of dollars of our economy are related to beekeeping and the impact that it has on enhancing crop yields.

Some insects also produce non-food resources like the silk used in textiles, that are produced by silkworms. Insects also produce waxes, dyes, pigments, and shellac, a resin used in lacquers and adhesives. 

One crucial role of insects is in recycling nutrients. They break down organic matter that makes the nutrients available for plants. Insects are involved in the decomposition of dead plants and animals. They also aerate soils and have a big impact on the health and structure of soils.

What’s causing insect populations to plummet?

What are the reasons for the decline of insects? The answer is very much like the reasons for the decline of wildlife. Urbanization, agriculture, and deforestation are reducing the amount of suitable habitat for insects. Direct habitat destruction and the breakup of habitats reduce the food and cover that insects rely on. 

Insecticides kill insect populations. Most insecticides don’t target one pest; they kill any insect they encounter. Neonicotinoids are a group of insecticides that affect insect and animal nervous systems, paralyze, and eventually kill them. They are responsible for the death of many insects and animals. They may be less toxic to mammals and birds than some other insecticides, but they are a significant threat to many insects and are responsible for the decline of many insect groups. These chemicals can also wash into streams and ponds and kill aquatic insects that fish rely on. 

Climate change is causing dramatic changes in temperature, precipitation, and other environmental conditions. Any one of those can impact and reduce insect populations. Weather events, like storms, droughts, floods, and temperature swings will disrupt insect life cycles. That impacts insects directly or impacts the plants they use for food. The change in insect populations has an impact on the wildlife that depends on insects as a food source.

Some insects migrate and some are active at night. Artificial lights can disrupt migrations and the ability of some to attract mates. Nocturnal insects, such as moths and fireflies, find artificial lights particularly attractive.

Invasive plants and invasive animal species can disrupt natural ecosystems. They may replace the animals in the ecosystem or replace the food sources that the insects rely on. Invasive species may also spread disease. 

How you can help insects flourish

These changes in the environment may disrupt ecosystems. Insects play crucial roles in food webs, decomposition, and nutrient cycling. Their decline can contribute to the loss of biodiversity, which can make ecosystems more vulnerable.

Colorado is one of a few states that has passed a law, Colorado House Bill 24-1117, that may help invertebrates. The law expands the Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s authority to study, survey, and develop information about invertebrates. Colorado Parks and Wildlife officials will focus on research, surveys, and voluntary conservation efforts. They will have no regulatory authority over invertebrates.

So, what can be done to help pollinators and other insects?

• Plant gardens with the native plants that provide food and shelter for local insects
• Minimize pesticide use and choose organic alternatives when possible
• Provide habitat for pollinators by leaving some areas of your yard in a natural state, create small ponds, and provide nesting structures
• Support local beekeepers and buying local honey can help to protect honeybees and other pollinators

Chief Seattle said, “Humankind has not woven the web of life. We are but one thread within it.”

When we start tugging on one thread, we impact all the other threads in the web of life.

Rick Spitzer is a renowned wildlife photographer and longtime local who lives in Wildridge. The Eagle County Community Wildlife Roundtable is a collaborative partnership with the White River National Forest, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, Bureau of Land Management, local government entities, community members and citizen scientists. The purpose of the Eagle County Community Wildlife Roundtable is to gather a group of diverse stakeholders in the valley to understand and address issues facing wildlife populations.