By Justin Goulet

SACPA: The decline of insect populations and how we can help them survive

Mar 24, 2021 | 12:58 PM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – Some people may not be fans of insects, but they play an important role in our ecosystem.

Dan Johnson covered this topic at the March 11 virtual meeting of the Southern Alberta Council on Public Affairs (SACPA). Johnson promotes the public understanding of science, with a focus on the ecosystem and biodiversity.

He is a professor of environmental sciences at the University of Lethbridge. As part of his talk, he covered the decline of insect populations.

“In many cases, we know that some insects are not declining, others possibly are, but the biggest problem is we don’t really have the kind of monitoring we would need to even be able to tell,” he told SACPA.

“Everybody has heard about the ‘windshield surveys’ and so on, but if you happen to drive past a wetland, all of a sudden you get a lot of insects, so that is not really a good database, although, there are indications.”

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He said one of the most important components of studying the decline is ‘citizen science’.

“If we can bring people into this as basically amateur scientists, amateur entomologists who are aware of the world around them and keep track of species, we can have an enormously better database for answering these questions [why some populations are declining].”

MONARCH BUTTERFLIES

Johnson used the monarch butterfly as an example of a creature facing challenges.

Monarch butterflies pollinate many types of wildflowers and can also be an important food source for birds, small animals and other insects.

“I found exactly two [chrysalis] this year. Usually, I find zero. We were at the northern edge of the range, but it’s an interesting story in North America. The monarch butterfly, as people know, migrates… [and] when it gets this far north, they face a lot of challenges, like a short season.” he said.

“One of the biggest challenges is that the food plant [Showy milkweed] grows on the roadsides and it’s covered in dust.”

Johnson said since the 1990s, there have been ups and downs in population and climate change continues to play a role in that.

“If climate does continue to warm, there will be differences in the availability of the food plant and so on.”

He offered early data from the annual Western Monarch Thanksgiving Count, led by the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation. It showed that the monarch population has fallen to a record low.

The count is based in California. The data showed fewer than 10,000 monarchs compared with millions during the 1980s and 300,000 only five years ago.

“Other butterflies – we don’t know what will happen to them. Maybe they’re fine but it could be in our lifetime that some of these are just lost,” Johnson commented.

To help reinvigorate and conserve the monarch population, the U of L professor said he’s collected Showy milkweed seeds before the fall and winter seasons hit.

“So, I’m planting it and spreading it around,” Johnson said.

“If we actually planted it down in the river valley, in the parks, the golf courses and so on… that would actually likely help because when they get to the northern extent of the range, if they can find a food plant, they have a chance. If they don’t find a food plant, that’s the end of the road.”

Johnson listed some action to take to create insect-friendly habitats. These actions include:

• Convert lawns into diverse natural habitats;
• Grow native plants;
• Reduce the use of pesticides and herbicides;
• Limit the use of exterior lighting;
• Lessen soap and salt runoff from washing vehicles and building exteriors;
• Counter negative perceptions of insects;
• Become an educator, ambassador, and advocate for insect conservation;
• Get involved in local politics, support science, and vote.

Johnson’s full presentation to the Southern Alberta Council on Public Affairs can be seen below, via SACPA on YouTube.