Opinion: Eight simple actions that individuals can take to save insects from global declines

Insects constitute the vast majority of known animal species and are ubiquitous across terrestrial ecosystems, playing key ecological roles. As prey, they are critical to the survival of countless other species, including the majority of bats, birds, and freshwater fishes (1). As herbivores, predators, and parasites, they are major determinants of the distribution and abundance of innumerable plants and animals. The majority of flowering plants, the dominant component of most terrestrial ecosystems, depend on insects for pollination and hence reproduction. As consumers of waste products, insects are essential to the recycling of nutrients. Humans and their agriculture rely heavily on such “ecosystem services” provided by insects (Fig. 1 A–J), which together have at least an annual value of ∼$70 billion (2020 valuation) in the United States (2). Insects also provide humans with honey, silk, wax, dyes, and, in many cultures, food. Insects have become essential subjects in medical and basic biological research. Furthermore, insects are one of the most easily accessible forms of wildlife, with a diversity of morphology, life history, and behavior that seems ready-made for inspiring appreciation of nature and its conservation (Fig. 1 K–T). This benign characterization of insects seems selfevident now, but its emergence is historically recent, especially in the United States. In the mostly agricultural 19th century United States, political pressure generated by increasing crop losses to insects led to the creation of a government-supported corps of professional entomologists. Great advances in fundamental knowledge resulted, but entomology became closely tied to the chemical/pesticide industry, which increasingly adopted a strident insects-as-enemy dialogue, broadened to include disease vectors (3). The 1962 publication of Silent Spring (4) marked a dramatic turn toward a more balanced view, but the transition has been slow, not least because the challenges of crop pest and disease vector management remain enormous. Ironically, even as insects gain recognition as essential members of ecosystems, a concern has arisen that their diversity and abundance may be in global decline, owing to habitat degradation and loss, climate change, pollution, and other causes (e.g., 5–8). Although the evidence is as yet fragmentary and controversial (9, 10; see also articles in this issue), there is every reason to suspect that such forces, combined with human population growth and urbanization, are leading to declines among insects and many other organisms (e.g., 11). There is thus abundant justification for trying to slow or mitigate potential ecological catastrophes triggered by biodiversity losses. Multiple proposals exist. For example, Forister et al. (12) called for immediate conservation actions at four levels: nations, states, provinces, and cities; working lands; natural areas; and gardens, homes, and other personal property. Others have proposed intermediate and long-term action plans for insect conservation and recovery (e.g., 13, 14). Implementing these plans and actions, especially those that require approval of governments or nations, can take time. Fortunately, at an individual level, people can play a key role with immediate local impacts. In light of the importance of insects to human existence and the negative trends in insect abundance and diversity that have been shown in numerous recent studies, it is vital that people learn how they can take action. To help individuals broaden participation in the conservation of insects and to promote the adoption of behaviors and habits expected to mitigate insect declines, we propose eight simple actions, most with immediate impact, that many people can undertake on their own, regardless of background, occupation,