Study shows massive drop in flying bug populations

GERMANY — Three quarters of insects in protected German nature reserves have disappeared, according to new research.

Researchers looked at the biomass of flying bugs of flying insects inside 63 German nature reserves. They found that 76% of the total insect population between 1989 and 2016 had been lost.

The cause of the decline is unclear, but the fact the insects vanished at a high rate has scientists concerned. They say their findings could be representative of other areas around the world.

The study was published this week in the journal PLOS One.