This summer, Kent Wildlife Trust, in partnership with BugLife; Essex Wildlife Trust; Gwent Wildlife Trust and Somerset Wildlife trust, ran a citizen science survey with the aim of combatting the lack of evidence on insect population declines. The methodology is based on the windscreen phenomenon – a term given to the observation that people tend to find fewer insects squashed on the windscreens of their cars compared to several decades ago.
We worked with the app developer Natural Aptitude, who have also developed apps for Butterfly Conservation’s Big Butterfly Count and the RSPB’s Swift Mapper, to develop the Bugs Matter app, which is available on both IOS and Android. Our citizen scientists would then use their “splatometer” (provided by KWT) to count the number of bugs splats on their number plate at the end of an essential journey.
We have seen an overwhelming response to the survey, with over 5000 people signing up to the survey nationally with around 500 of those based in Kent. We also received an excellent media response, with Bugs Matter featuring heavily on local and national news and excitingly on Springwatch! The survey ended on the 31st August and so results are yet to be published, but a previous study ran by KWT showed that there were 50% fewer insects in 2019 compared to an RSPB survey in 2004. We are hoping to run the survey from June to August each year to give a reliable indication of the trend of insect numbers.
By improving on the lack of evidence around insect numbers, KWT will be able to better inform our own conservation efforts, such as road verge nature reserve project, alongside working with organisations such as BugLife to increase the pressure on the government to tackle the alarming rate of decline on a national scale.
If you would like to help insect populations, please keep an eye out for our next Bugs Matter survey next June, reduce pesticide usage in your gardens and start creating insect friendly habitats in your garden: more information can be found here.
