Despite being the most numerous and widely distributed class in the animal kingdom, insects remain vastly understudied. For every human on Earth, there are an estimated 1.4 billion insects, collectively outweighing us 70 times over. Yet, most conservation focus is reserved for charismatic species like bees and butterflies, leaving the majority of insect life poorly understood. This lack of comprehensive data is a significant barrier to addressing the global issue of insect population decline.
A recent study led by the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH) and the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) underscores the magnitude of the knowledge gap. Of approximately one million identified insect species, just 12,100 have been assessed under the IUCN Red List. Of these, 20 percent are considered threatened. But this represents only about one percent of all insect species. The question remains: what about the remaining 99 percent?
Insect research is heavily skewed toward Europe and North America. In contrast, data from Asia, South America, and especially Africa is alarmingly sparse. This geographic imbalance further complicates the global understanding of insect population decline, leaving critical gaps in conservation strategies and policy responses.
Well-known species like bees, butterflies, and dragonflies dominate both public awareness and scientific research. For example, 2024 was one of the worst years on record for UK butterflies, echoing similar patterns across Europe and North America. Dragonflies also face risks, with 16 percent of assessed species at risk of extinction, and bee populations have dropped by 60 percent since the 1990s. However, these species are just a fraction of the pollinators and ecosystem service providers that insects represent.
Dr. Rob Cooke from UKCEH points out that “uncharismatic” insects—such as earwigs and cockroaches—play crucial roles in pest control and nutrient cycling but receive little attention. Earwigs help control aphids on fruit trees, while cockroaches contribute to soil health through decomposition. These overlooked species are vital to ecosystem functioning, yet remain among the least studied.
The urgency to address insect population decline is growing. Habitat destruction, pesticide use, and dwindling food sources make survival increasingly difficult for insects worldwide. The study authors emphasize that we cannot afford to wait decades to fill the existing data gaps.
To move forward, the UKCEH-ZSL study proposes a new framework to assess how different environmental drivers affect local insect species. By integrating fragmented datasets and using diverse modeling techniques, researchers aim to develop broad, scalable conservation actions that can benefit the widest range of species. According to Dr. Charlotte Outhwaite of ZSL, the goal is to find practical, large-scale solutions rather than crafting species-specific plans for the million known types of insects.
In short, the path to reversing insect population decline lies in better data, global collaboration, and a shift in focus beyond the charismatic few. With so many insect species teetering on the brink—and the vast majority still in the shadows—filling in the knowledge gaps is a race against time.
https://www.euronews.com/green/2025/04/04/insect-biodiversity-blind-spot