Climate change drives insect population declines in Europe

Climate change and increasing heat and drought are significantly altering insect populations across Europe, leading to the decline of certain species and the migration of others. In Luxembourg, biologist Axel Hochkirch notes that while warmer temperatures can accelerate development and increase generations for some insects, drought poses a severe threat. Many species require water for egg development, and the drying of wetlands and rivers is particularly detrimental to those adapted to cool, moist environments.

In France, naturalists report a worrying decline in biodiversity. In the Grand Est region, specialists have observed that butterfly populations have been divided by four over the last 20 years, even within protected areas. The lack of insect activity, such as crickets and pollinators, is having direct consequences on local ecosystems and agriculture; for instance, reduced pollination has led to lower crop yields in certain garden settings. While some Mediterranean species, such as the praying mantis or certain grasshoppers, are moving northward to exploit warmer conditions, many native species face local extinction.