Are insect numbers really declining — and if so, why? In this episode, entomologist Roel van Klink explains what long-term data reveal about global and local insect trends and why the causes behind these changes remain surprisingly uncertain. We also discuss why it is difficult to distinguish between natural fluctuations and human-driven impacts, such as land-use change or climate change. We explore what scientists currently know, what they still don’t know, and why understanding these drivers is crucial for biodiversity conservation.

Dr. Roel van Klink is an entomologist at iDiv and the Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg. He is the lead author of one of the largest meta-studies on global insect trends.

Related links:

Roel van Klink at iDiv:

Roel van Klink on LinkedIn:

Roel van Klink’s major study on global insect trends, published in the journal Science in 2020 and discussed in this episode:

Study of insect declines in the Krefeld area, published in 2017 and mentioned in this episode. This study drew massive public attention to the issue of insect declines: