New data suggest that insect life continues to decline, despite a hot summer - Buglife
The troubling extent of insect declines has been highlighted once again by the results of the 2025 Bugs Matter citizen science survey published today (19 November 2025).
The latest data show that the number of flying insects sampled on vehicle number plates across the UK has fallen by a staggering 59% in just 5 years.
Bugs Matter, the annual survey from Buglife and Kent Wildlife Trust, has captured the imagination of citizen scientists across the UK and the Republic of Ireland. Using the simple but ingenious method of monitoring insect splats on vehicle number plates, the project provides crucial data about insect abundance. Analysis of records from more than 25,000 journeys shows an alarming annual average decline in bug splats of 19%, since the survey began in 2021.
As COP30, the 30th UN climate conference, draws to a close in Brazil this week, world leaders have been discussing priority actions to tackle climate change, one of the key drivers of insect decline. Insects are critical to ecosystem functioning and services. They pollinate crops, provide natural pest control, decompose waste and recycle nutrients, and underpin food chains that support birds, mammals and other wildlife. Without insects, the planet’s ecological systems would collapse.
Andrew Whitehouse of Buglife said: “You might expect that the sunny Spring and hot Summer in 2025 would give insect numbers a boost, however the Bugs Matter data suggest otherwise. Despite apparently favourable conditions for insects to thrive we have recorded a fifth year of significant decline. Insects might be small, but they are incredibly important to maintaining healthy environments, and delivering the services that we and other animals rely upon – from healthy soils and clean rivers to pollinating crops. Losing 59% of our insect life is potentially catastrophic. Urgent action is needed to restore nature at scale and reduce threats like pesticide use, habitat loss, and climate change.”