Concern over 'bug splats' drop

SURVEY RECORDS NUMBER OF DEAD INSECTS ON CAR NUMBER PLATES

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NEW analysis from a survey of insects has highlighted “alarming consequences” for numbers in Kent.

Data from the the 2024 Bugs Matter survey shows the number of flying insects, sampled on number plates by citizen scientists, has declined by 67% since 2021.

The Bugs Matter Citizen Science Survey uses an innovative method for the large-scale surveying of flying insect numbers across the UK.

It runs every summer and involves citizen scientists recording the number of insect 'splats' on their vehicle number plates following a journey.

"Counting insects not only gives an estimate of the abundance of insect life but is also a measure of the health of the environment, so when their numbers fall it is an indication that nature is in trouble," a spokesman for Kent Wildlife Trust said.